---------------------------------------------------------- Pietenpol-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 10/05/13: 5 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 08:50 AM - Re: Re: Higher Useful Load (Steven Dortch) 2. 10:18 AM - Re: Higher Useful Load (Steven Dortch) 3. 01:06 PM - Re: Higher Useful Load (A Future Pilot) 4. 03:20 PM - Re: Engine Selection (A Future Pilot) 5. 10:33 PM - Re: I'm honored! (aerocarjake) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 08:50:30 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Re: Higher Useful Load From: Steven Dortch Let's assume that your plane is strong and won't break, So structural matters aside: Increased weight decreases the speed (not angle) at which your aircraft stalls. The stall speed increases incrementally once a certain weight is passed. Add to increased weight, an aft CG and the increase in stall speed in a bank, and you can have a stall speed that is close to the speed you turn base! On the extreme end of this is envelope, a very overloaded aircraft cruses just a few knots above the stall speed. Altitude also affects this. Thus the U2 flight envelope at altitude was cruse and top speed were within 2-4 knots of stall speed. Y'all be careful out there. Steve D On Fri, Oct 4, 2013 at 12:26 PM, taildrags wrote: > > John; > > It's not just a matter of getting enough lift and thrust to get the > airplane to fly at a higher gross weight. The design loading for the wing > spars, wing attach fittings and bolts, lift struts, strut attachment > fittings and bolts, landing gear, and other things are affected by an > increase in weight. If you think about it, the Normal Category load limit > is +3.8G so if you increase the gross weight by 100 lbs, the stresses have > to be analyzed for 3.8 times that (actually, 1.9 times that for each wing > since there are 2 wings). Not that it can't be done, but you've got to > look at the whole picture and not just adding more wing area or engine > thrust to get the additional weight off the ground. > > This topic has come up fairly often, given that most people today are a > little larger in weight and stature than Mr. Pietenpol was. In my case > it's not a factor since I'm 5'-9" and weigh about 152 in summer clothes, > but I think I'm the exception. In fact, my airplane (empty weight 633) is > right at gross with full fuel and two FAA-standard people aboard (175 lbs > apiece). I haven't heard a lot of excitement on this list about > structurally and aerodynamically analyzing the Air Camper and > re-engineering it for a higher gross weight. It is what it is. > > -------- > Oscar Zuniga > Medford, OR > Air Camper NX41CC "Scout" > A75 power > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=409853#409853 > > ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 10:18:05 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Higher Useful Load From: Steven Dortch As a builder you are the person who states the gross weight. I would not list over 1320 pounds to stay in the Light sport category. But your official gross weight decision is your decision. The experienced and long considered conventional wisdom of the Pietenpol community is that somewhere around 1230-1280 pounds is the limit. I have not done the math to a flaw but I think my useful load is around 550 pounds. Minus fuel will allow me to carry fuel and two of pax and stuff. If I fill the main tank I am OK but when I fill the wing tank as well, I have to get skinnier passengers. The easiest way for me to be able to carry a passenger is to lose weight. I plan on losing about 16 more pounds to get to 180. That will allow more forward CG and for larger passengers. Blue Skies, Steve D. On Fri, Oct 4, 2013 at 11:05 AM, John Ackerman wrote: > Hey everyone! > > I've been a lurker on this mailing list for a long time, but haven't > really said much. I'm considering building a Pietenpol and the only thing > holding me back at this point is the useful load. It seems the average > useful load is about 450 lbs. I'd REALLY like to get 500-550 useful. I'll > be using an O-200 to power mine. Has anyone designed a slightly larger wing > or some-such to allow for a higher useful load? > > Thanks! > John > > * > > * > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 01:06:27 PM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Higher Useful Load From: "A Future Pilot" @nightmare I meant climb performance and stall speed, not maximum structural limitations. I realized that that's probably where the confusion was coming from. So it sounds like 1250 gross is safe, and if I build to 750 or lighter, that'll give me a solid 500 pounds useful load, which should be plenty! Thank you all for your help! Now I just gotta save up some money to buy the plans :) Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=409926#409926 ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 03:20:58 PM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Engine Selection From: "A Future Pilot" Just today I heard of someone with an O-320 on theirs here in KY. I was told he had done a lot of modifications to it to allow for that. I'm not sure if he's on this mailing list, or if any of you have heard anything about it. But generally a Corvair or O-200 is about as big as makes sense for a Pietenpol. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=409930#409930 ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 10:33:23 PM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: I'm honored! From: "aerocarjake" Thanks Oscar - appreciate the comments.... Hope to get down to see your bird(s) sometime..... Do not archive -------- Jake Schultz - curator, Newport Way Air Museum (OK, it's just my home) Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=409937#409937 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message pietenpol-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Pietenpol-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/pietenpol-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/pietenpol-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.