Buckeye Pietenpol Association
Newsletter:

Mailbag and musings . . . Issue #50, BPAN

Hello Grant, Just wanted to write and give an update on my Corvair-powered Piet. I have completed 15 wing ribs, and am looking at ways to speed this process up. I finally got smart (slow learner) and made a master set of diagonal capstrips. After tracing the masters to capstrip stock I cut them all out on the bandsaw and sanded 'til the pencil lines disappeared. I built a jig to prebend the upper capstrips, six at a time, but it was a disaster. I used 1/2 inch dowels to form the upper capstrip curvature and hold then in place, but the water soaked spruce bruised against the dowels and also didn't have a real nice curve. At first I thought maybe I needed more dowels but after talking to a fellow Pietenpol builder here in Tulsa, I realized that what I needed was a continuously curved surface for the capstrips to form against. I now think I can rework my original jig with 1/8 inch plywood (maybe) and get it to work, therefore eliminating the need to boil water for every rib. Hopefully by the next update I can say that the ribs are all finished and I am working on either the metal fittings or tail section. I did make an attempt at the tail section hinge fittings back in April but failed. I got the holes too close together and didn't have enough material for the bend radius. The holes ended up in the radius on one end. Also, even though I had a small bending brake, it still seemed too big to handle the 1/2 x 1 inch x .090 sheet steel, i.e. the fitting wanted to move around, the fitting legs were not square to each other, etc. Any suggestions on how to bend these original fittings? Am going to Brodhead this year with my brother who is rebuilding the Corvair engine for me. We hope to learn alot and take many pictures. Hope to catch a ride or two in a Piet also!! Regards, Bart D Conrad (5111 S Birmingham Pl. Tulsa, OK 74105)

Bob Edwards (38047 Stenhammer Drive, Fremont CA 94536-1850) says his Piet building may be in jeopardy. The Stinson Voyager he's been restoring is taking sooooo long that his wife could no longer stand his pain, so cleared Bob to get something to fly while he fixes the Voyager. A Piet maybe? Well, maybe, but there is a 7/8 '31 Fairchild 22 that available. Sooo, ...

''Hi. - After my wife's introduction to Piet flying via the courtesy of Frank Pavliga, we're both taken by the Piet Spell! Sign us up. Thanks, Larry & Isle Harmacinski (2102 East 3rd Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544)

Lee Stenson (1308 W. Oak Street, Fort Collins CO 80521-2347) hasn't spent much time in Colorado. He's been working as a T-6 mechanic for Warbird Rides. They travel from airport to airport every three months or so. Home based in Lantana (W. Palm Beach) FL, Lee will get back to his Piet in his hangar at Brodhead for the 20th and ''hopes to do some flying then.'' Lee got his CFI last July (94). Says ''it's funny how all this working gets in the way having fun.''

(7/10/95) Yesterday at Creve Coeur airport we met two visiting Germans, Miro & Uschi Rieser (Gammelsdorfer St 10, 94315 Straubing, Germany). They have had quite a summer visit to the States. They got to fly along on part of the 1995 70-knotters trip through eastern Canada (met Jim VanDervort on that one), visited Brodhead for a few days, sleeping in Mehlin Smith's hangar, got to fly TWO different Model ''A'' Piets, met Dick Weeden, Ted Davis, et al., met Denny Trone (Lincoln Sport bipe owner) and then steered Denny's river boat down part of the Mississippi. (After doing air-to-air photos of his bipe last year, I discovered Denny is a friend of a high school buddy of mine who is into antique boats. gem)

On July 14, Ted Davis (N 4031 Hwy. E, Brodhead WI 53520) phoned from Lambert Field on his way to do some airplane stuff in Sacremento. Jim Hammond (3073 Rt 68 N., Yellow Springs, OH 45387) was with him. They had almost a full day layover, so Howard Henderson and I spent some time with the two of them. Turns out Jim had recently acquired Allen Rudolf's ''A''-powered ship, so there was a little discussion about Ford four-bangers. I think we agreeed that maybe four people can know less about a subject than one person can. (And later I heard that Jim acquired another airplane on the Sacramento trip.)

Part of a July 7 letter from Bob Hansberger (3746 W Charter Oak Rd, Phoenix, Arizona 85029-2016): Dear Grant, I have met you on America On Line. I have had Piet plans I got from Bernie in the early 60's. They were only $15.00 then. I had a false start building one back then ... a bad experience with Resorcinol glue. It was a good thing, too. I was fitting the fuselage sides together and had set jigs and clamps to check alignment. When my little seven year old daughter sat on one of the jigs, her weight separated all the lower longerons from the uprights! I inspected the glue joints and found the glue had all been absorbed into the wood fibers. Needless to say I was lucky and sad at the same time. A lesson learned. Well, many years have passed and it's time to start again. I am looking forward to building again and reading about others who have loved the Pietenpol. Until next time, Bob.

Joseph J. Fedelem (15198-2 Majorca Drive, Naples, FL 33963) joined us mid July. Here's part of his letter: "I have seen your newsletter which I borrowed from one of your members (Russ Eberhardt) and am in the process of building a Pietenpol Air Camper. My plans are to use Douglas Fir throughout, Subaru power and Suoerflite II System for covering and finish. The Pietenpol has always intrigued me and now that I've retired, and have the time, have decided to tackle its construction. I have flown 35 missions over Germany in B-17's during World War II, worked for Sperry Gyroscope Co. in Flight Research, was Maintenance Supervisor for Provincetown Boston Airlines and, lastly, was owner of Aero Consultants of S.W. Florida, Inc., so have been associated with airplanes most of my life and wish to continue this interest.

Some email from gmckib@Ra.MsState.Edu (Gerald H. McKibben) '' ... I'm at the place with my Corvair powered GN-1 where I have to wait on the FAA inspection, and I'm waiting rather impatiently.''

Ed Ripplinger has a new address: 23569 Suttons Bay Dr., Clinton Twp., MI 48038. He will miss Brodhead '95.

Via email from Lowell W. Gregerson (8757 N. 165th Avenue, Forest Lake MN 55025): Grant; Just a note to try the E-Mail. My wife Marilyn and I stopped in at the Brodhead Airport on Sat. July 29. We had a great time with the breakfast, picture taking and just soaking up the sights and sounds. The weather couldn't have been better. Next year we plan to stay longer. The set of Pietenpol plans at my house is still gathering dust but I do have some parts and maybe we can get something started when our MN weather chases us back inside. Our previous building experience has been with Tcraft, Cub and C150s and various others. This will be the first plans built. Thanks for the super newsletters.

Also via email from John Greenlee (1656 Ardath, Wichita Falls TX 76301-6148): I really enjoyed the Piet extravaganza, and wish it could go on longer, etc. After leaving Brodhead for home on Tues., we checked into the Super 8 motel in Cameron, MO. While relaxing on the bed, the phone rang. I wondered who it could be as no one on Earth had any idea where I was. I picked it up and it was Buz Baer! It turns out that we had selected a motel they normally stayed at on their way home, and they had noticed my car in the lot. What a small world. Well, I'm going to get real serious about assembling the tail of my ship now. I bought a set of aluminum hinges from Vi Kapler, and ten turnbuckles at Oshkosh. Hopefully, I will make up hardwire brace wires with ferrules as per Garry Price's instructions. I have one more elevator horn to make.

Carlos Soriano (12851 Adams St. Garden Grove CA 92645) has the plans and when he saw a real Piet a Oshkosh, he joined the BPA and was searching for the 3-piece wing plans.

John Dilatush has retired, has a new address (6780 Country Road 104, Salida, CO 81201) and has his Subaru completed. He went to Brodhead and was ''totally inspired.''

Tom Nolan (445 Elmdale Avenue, Utica NY 13502) says ''I'll volunteer to sweep, clean and shine the Pietenpol hangar at Pioneer Field next summer. It needs my attention.'' It was good to see Tom at Oshkosh. Don't think he made it to the real fly-in.

Kevin Purtee and Siggi Schoen (346 Madison, Frederick, MD 21701) have a new 85 year old house to live in, and are prepping basement for Piet building.

Guy Davis (Rt 3, Box L-7, Franklin, TX 77856) joined up again. Must have been that visit to Brodhead and ride with Frank Pavliga that got him interested again!

Ed Mason (1604 NE 53rd St., Portland OR 97213) says he has an Air Camper, wants to join up. Welcome, Ed.

Clay Spurgeon (512 Sussex Dr., Janesville, WI 53546) is another one who got a ride in Sky Gypsy with Frank P. Clay says he's still grinnin' on August 5.

Trevor Hogg (Box 174, Warren Manitoba R0C 3E0 Canada) is interested in the Corvair engine, had his curiosity elevated by his visit to Brodhead '95.

Aug 19, 1995: Grant, ... I'm going to the Alexander Aeroplane builder's workshop in New Hampshire next weekend (birthday gift from my wife). I'll post impressions after. Take care. Eric Shaw (178 Ruggles Ave., Newport RI 02840)

Jim Ballew (Rt 2, Box 284, Collinsville OK 74021) writes ''I'm presently doing engine runs and taxi tests in preparation for first flight. Hope to have FAA inspection and test flights started by end of August. I will send pictures and info after first flight. Regards, Jim''

'' ... issue #48 was full of useful and entertaining information. I just finished the woodwork and hinges on my horizontal stabilizer and am now working on the elevators. Building is a lot of fun, if not a lot of work! It will be worth all the effort when my Piet' is up and flying! I finally decided on an engine. It will be an A65 Continental.'' That from James Gagnier (1420 S. Gilbuck St., Anaheim CA 92802)

Most builders tell how to build a Pietenpol. When I complete mine, you will get a list from me on what not to do. Number one on the list is don't use .050 thick aluminum for a gas tank. It's too heavy. .040 would be better. My airplane is now 80% finished, 30% to go. Continental C-85, fuel injected, two gas tanks. (I want to see whether my kidneys will outlast the fuel supply!) See you at Brodhead next year. No more Oshkosh! Sincerely Tom Young (the old Hoosier, 3712 Price Drive, Logansport IN 46947-4018)

New member Russ Lassetter (1113 Powers Ferry Pl., #05-2, Marietta GA 30067) has Sky Scout plans recently acquired from Don Pietenpol.

Back in June '95 John Ousterhout (P.O. Box 166, Wilson Creek WA 98860; jouster@rocket.com) emailed ''I've recently enjoyed corresponding with Dave Cheney in Walla Walla, and look forward to meeting him in person one of these days. He says he's planning to fly his Piet to Brodhead next year, and I'm going to ask if I can be part of his ground crew for the trip. I've got the same dream, but it'll be at least another year before my plane will be ready. I'm in the slow process of a valve grind and reassembly of my ''A''. Snyder's no longer carries aluminum heads, so I'll be making my own. If it works well I'll write it up. In the mean time, I'm also trying to contact Steve Cavanagh (NSW) to learn more about his V-8 experience. Aluminum V-8's have been well documented in CONTACT! magazine, but always with reduction drives. I hope he's going direct drive. I'm also a member of the Land Rover Owners Association, and have ready access to the Rover V-8. There's a (tenuous) connection to Henry's ''A'': The 9-N tractor engine, derived from the ''A'', was used in Ford-built Jeeps. Post-war Rover company started building the first Land Rovers by copying the left-over Jeeps, some of which may have been Ford built, and eventually used the aluminum V-8, which is still used, including in Australia. So you see, the Aluminum V-8 powered Pietenpol is the obvious result of Henry's ''A''. ... Ahum, perhaps that is too tenuous. Anyway, I was anxious to make contact, and look forward to hearing from other BPAer's on the net. If God didn't want man to fly, He wouldn't have given us Henry Ford and Bernard Pietenpol.

Don Verdiani (103 Lockerbie Lane, West Chester PA 19382-7286 -74542.2577@compuserve.com) and Jack Broomall did the weight and balance study at Brodhead '94; together they are building one plane in Jack's basement in Michigan. Don built the ribs and center section. Now it's tougher to get to Jack's house to work on the plane, but Don does once in a while.

Randall Owings (RR 1, Box 59, Warrensburg IL 62573) has a set of GN-1 plans. He asks if he's ''off on the right foot?''

Craig Lawler (Rd 4, Box 5212, Milton PA 17847) is a pilot, has a Continental-powered Air Camper under construction ... and he's a Mac user!

Welcome, Brian Diederich (RR 2, Box 31, Ozawkie KS 66070), who is ready to start building. He's ordered the 3-piece wing plans also.

Donald Lillich (5101 Reeds Rd., Mission KS 66202) is an ''interested in building'' new member, too.

Aug 29, '95, Grant, ... Just got back from The Hampton, NH offering of Alexander Aeroplane workshops. Took the intro course. Did a little composite, wood and fabric, sheet metal, and welding work. Definitely worth it. Saw Gary Price's Piet. Unbelievably gorgeous! Take care, Eric J. Shaw (178 Ruggles Ave., Newport RI 02840)

John A. Zurik (9824 State Route 656, Marengo OH 43334) checked in last September. He says he'll ''retire someday and finish my airplane then.''

On September Bill Wilson (10020 Sam Peterson Rd., Oak Grove MO 64075) 11, 1995 wrote '' ... After two years of working on ten acres, new house and new shop with heat and air conditioning am finally getting back to work on Piet. New job keeps me away from home 2-3 days a week but at least when I do get home I now get to work on an airplane. With good luck I hope to have Piet flying next summer.''

... Missed Brodhead this summer; personal business. Next year for certain! The ''Stoplog Piet'' is almost finished. We are at the ''90%'' physical completion phase, which as we all know takes another ''90%'' of the total time phase. Anyway, it looks pretty good so far and I'll get some photos of the rigged frame when completed. I may not get to my ''Stoplog'' project for a while, but we should have the one I'm building for my partner flying this winter. Would like to do the test flying on skis as we then have unlimited airport in the form of the lake in front of our house. As well, we can utilize available shelter and electricity for pre-heating, etc. (And a rum stock for debriefing) In the meantime I have a ''Baby Ace'' to re-cover and an Aeronca 7AC Replica, (115 h.p.), to get finished. The beat goes on! All the best, J. Ellis Culliton (PO Box 38, Lakefield Ontario K0L 2H0 Canada)

The members of EAA's Chapter 604 are indeed fortunate to have Lee Amacker (939 South Third Avenue, Walla Walla WA 99362) as President and Newsletter Editor. Here's a bit from their Sept '95 Rite Flyer: ''Wow! With so many interesting goin's on this month, wish I could postpone having to to be gone a few weeks. One thing for sure I'd make, is the next Chap. 219 meeting at Martin Field. Dave Cheney's Pietenpol Air Camper will have center stage. A legend to the genius of Bernard H. Pietenpol who managed a successful two place design out of wood, muslin, and a converted Ford Model A engine 65 years ago, Piets are still going strong today with over 400 examples building/flying around the world; USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, South Africa, England; and will probably pop up in Russia one of these days. In quantity, Pete Bower's Fly Baby is probably the only wood airframe design to surpass it in builder completions. The wood work on Dave's is outstanding- Check it out 19:30, Sat., 19 Sept b-4 he covers it up ... Sec/NLE Bob Flint/667/Lakeview, OR, sez in the Sept ish of Sage-Hoppers that a Piet is underway by Dan Benner, Hunk Christensen helping ... Which reminds me: Last May, I mentioned a high school senior, Mat Arata, 411/Klamath Fall, OR, was building a Piet as one of his class projects. Maybe NLE Dale Faries will print an update soon. In any case, Pietenpols and RV's are everywhar, albeit poles apart in airplane design school.''

Sue Koss & Doug Raymer (PO Box 193, Rockford, WA 99030) are building a Corvair-powered Air Camper to the plans.

Charlie Treventa (2 Winegarden Ct. O'Fallon, MO 63366-8138) joined us in September.

So did Robert A. Humphreys (8112 Florist Rd., Louisville, KY 40228)

Bill Doherty (1932 Dyer Avenue, St. Louis MO 63114) keeps his N32WD at Creve Coeur International (Dauster Field) here in St. Louis. Imminent flooding in '95 forced him out. In Sept. he had just returned the fuse. to the hangar, wings and other important stuff to follow soon.

via email Sep 28 from: lindo@radix.net (Kevin & Mara Riley) : Hi Grant, ... I talked to Don Pietenpol today and sent him a check for the plans and the suppliments. I told him that my wife can't wait to get started he wondered where I found her. Thanks, Kevin

Keith Stacy (PO Box 72, Buffalo IA 52728) tells us he finished a Vagabond, had a six hour inspection. "I'm not current myself, will probably talk to Ted Davis for a tune-up or complete overhaul. Tail dragger CFI's are like hen's teeth in my area. Should be in air by next newsletter.

Don M. Hicks (Route 1, Box 416-A, Hartford AL 36344) sent us some fine photos of his Air Camper project in his immaculate shop. He's been at the project for one year (a/o September) and is well along. Fuselage, except for cowling is complete. On gear w/most controls in. His wheels are the Henderson/Pavliga design with brakes added per T.E.A.M. A/C's Minimax. Steerable tail wheel after Yesterday's Wings design. Don says ''I owe special thanks to Gary Price and Howard Henderson for their enthusiastic advice.) 3-piece wing, per Vi Kaplar's drawings. Don says he'll try his hand at building a fiberglass tank per Gary Price's ''excellent drawings.'' All horiz. tail feathers are done. He was starting on fin and rudder the day he wrote. Tail wheel coil spring cut to length from 21'' Kawasaki front strut. Tubing from strut housing provides upper and lower retainer sockets. Fuselage from A/C certified spruce from Big Sky in Oregon. Stringers and tail feathers were cut from an old Stearman wing spar. ''I would welcome hearing from anyone with proper dimensions or any good ideas on a radiator for my ''A-Bone.'' Same thing for magneto. ... disappointed to miss Brodhead. Maybe one day I can join up with Alan Wise as he passes through Alabama ... ''

New member Tom Winstead (Rt 6, Box 236, Martin TN 38237-9650) has four homebuilts to his credit (currently an RV-4 with 350 hours logged). He's now interested in building a Piet and ''looking forward'' to working in wood.

''Did you know Clyde Bucley sold his Piet? - to fellow Chapter 211 EAA'er Scott DeGaynor (3434 Fruitridge NW, Gnd. Rapids, MI 49504). Scott hopes to fly it to Brodhead. I volunteered to do some of the piloting chores.'' ... That from Phil DeRuiter (450 Knapp St. NE, Grand Rapids MI 49505-4132) I sure hope Scott will do that. I'd like to see another of Clyde's fine creations ... gem)

via email: Ramblings of a 39 year old pilot ... Sold my beautiful 1957 mint condition restored Bonanza to a doctor fellow in Des Moines last week. I just kept thinking of Pietenpols as I flew over all that farmland on the way to deliver the plane from Long Island, New York to Des Moines. There are so many grass strips... I'd sure love to have one myself. Hangar space here on Long Island is $350/month minimum ... Oh well, between corporate flying jobs right now. (Was flying a White Plains-based Challenger jet on overseas trips) Maybe I'll get out of NY and move to someplace where I can have a grass strip. It won't come without a career change though ... Can't get that low and slow stuff out of my mind no matter what I end up doing though. Guess this age 40 stuff I hear about is for real. I enjoy the newsletter very much, thanks for making it so pleasant. Regards, Jon Ross (PO Box 184 Northport NY 11768)

Virl Deal (RR 2, Box 11, Ansgar IA 50472) wrote in September: Work on Pietenpol 32 came to a complete stop with the loss of my wife, but I am now getting back in the mood; will be back in the groove real soon. It was good being in the flying circle at Brodhead and to visit with you and all the rest. Had a real good time, but still sad. The flight home was real skud-running. I got a ride with Mike Kimble and his family in their DC-3 from Oshkosh to Brodhead to pick up my Piet. What a blast! See you next year, Virl

Bob Trew (PO Box 509, Aguila AZ 85320) got to Brodhead in '95; he wants to spend more time there on his next summer's trip.

Welcome Kevin Riley (12474 Turtle Dove Pl., Waldorf, MD 20602-1402)

Eric W. Smith (428 Hubert, Webster TX 77598) tells us he ''will have it finished before winter ends'' then added ... ''I hope.''

Jim Lees (193 Hwy 33W, Freehold NJ 07728) joined us in October.

10/12/95 - ''Was up to Brodhead a few weekends back, saw Dick Weeden to pick up a Corvair engine that I had to leave behind in his hanger last July. Al Merkin was up there fixing the cables on his landing gear after a slight mishap. Had lunch with the bunch and headed home.'' Edward J. Migon (2011 Arbor Vitae Drive, Hanover Park IL 60103)

Tom Finelli (636-A Myrtle, Glendale CA 91203) is back with us. He's building an ''A'' powered Piet with straight axle gear, leaf spring tail skid, original instruments and maybe cotton cover. Fuselage, wing ribs, stab. and elevators are complete.

Gene Hall (1414 So. 2nd, Clear lake IA 50428) tells he's not started on his Piet yet.

Russ Nichol (1783 East 8180 South, Sandy, UT 84093) is just starting on his and ''will need lots of help.''

Russell Lassetter (1113 Powers Ferry Pl. #D5-2, Marietta GA 30067) tells of receiving a fuselage spruce kit from Western Aircraft in Calgary, Canada. ''I have not fully inspected the wood due to space limitations but what I can see looks excellent. I hope to soon move to a hangar on a nearby grass strip. So Hopefully construction will progress rapidly. One quick question. Is a modern style firewall required for safety and FAA reasons? I have read of one or two hour burn-through requirements by the FAA and the original drawing do not show such a firewall.'' I sure didn't know the answer so I asked Howard Henderson for his opinion. His reply ''Grant, regarding a firewallÑI remember thinking about it quite a while before adding one and decided any fire would be higher up so decided against having one. The FAA guy didn't say anything about either. A fire would have to start at the gascolater for one to do any good. Howard H''

Lowell Durham (N29LD - 2250 White Pine Drive, Cambridge MN 55008) has a new address and writes ''Due to relocating I have not been able to fly as mush as I would have liked.''

October 16, 1995 Dear Grant: ... Progress continues on my Air Camper, though somewhat slower due to a work related two month hiatus during the late summer, early fall. I should have the fuselage all finished and sprayed with epoxy varnish within the next two or three weeks. After that I'll be turning to metal fittings, landing gear, and the engine mount for my '67 Corvair engine. My goal is to have the fuselage on its gear, the engine plumbed, and tested by the spring. Then onto the tail feathers, wings, covering, etc. Best regards, Ken Bickers (1912 Berkley Court, Bloomington IN 47401)

Pete Smith at the Barefoot Sky Ranch reports ''a good flyin' season here in Michigan - went to the Alliance T-Craft fly-in and the Grass Roots at Brodhead.'' Say's he'll ''see us all at Brodhead '96.''

The West Michigan Wing of the C.A.F. is lucky to have Phil DeRuiter (450 Knapp St. NE, Grand Rapids MI 49505-4132) producing its fine looking monthly newsletter flightlog. Phil sent me a few issues of his handsome publication, complete with excellent stories, halftones and layouts.

James C. DuPree (387 Martom Rd., Wyckoff NJ 07481) had a construction question. Via email, your editor asked Howard Henderson and John Greenlee for their answers. Question: ''Although the Pietenpol prints do not specifically say so, I gather that the cross struts of the fuselage butt against the 1/8'' plywood gussets on the inside of the fuselage sides. Is this true? Howard answered: ''Grant, I'm almost sure the cross braces butt against the gussets. It's amazing how those details get lost after a few years.'' John answered: ''Grant, I went out and looked at my ship to be sure. The cross braces do butt against the inside gussets of the fuselage sides. It is interesting to note at this point that the cross braces are thinner than the longerons. They are laid in flat, oriented to the top edge of the top longerons and bottom edge of the bottom longerons. Therefore, they are installed with only one set of gussets, i.e. on top of the top longerons and on bottom of the bottom longerons. A pair of identical, widely examined skeletal Sky Scouts have cross braces the same thickness as the longerons. They have gussets on both top and bottom of the cross braces. A quick glance at my 1933 Flying and Glider manual shows this is correct for the Sky Scout (I didn't think it was until just now), but this is not the same as on an Air Camper. I hope this helps. Feel free to share as much of this as you see fit with the individual posing the question. John - P.S., The prints do not specifically show a lot of things, but the answers are usually logically arrived at by closely examining the plans, thinking it through, and reading between the lines. For a set of plans drawn by a teenager, 60+ years ago, there is remarkably little missing or in error!'' (Amen! gem)

Duane Woolsey (207 East 300 South, Provo UT 84606) wrote in October: ''My Piet is progressing slowly at this time. The fuselage, tail surfaces and all metal fittings have been done for a year. About three months ago we installed all the landing gear and controls (except the aileron and engine controls) and started on the reduction drive for the Subaru engine. We finished that last month and sent the pulleys off to have the teeth put on them. Then we will hang the motor and start to assemble the wings. We have finished the wing ribs and just need to assemble the pieces so it should not take too long once we get started. I will look forward to getting the newsletter again, maybe it will get me moving again on the construction process.''

Welcome Slater Erickson ( 10525 23rd St. Ct. E., Puyallup WA 98372

Paul Kolehmainen ( 1536 B 22nd Pl., Forest Grove OR 97116) wrote in October: My Model ''A'' engine is ready to go together. I've got all new parts for it; had it bored and re-babbitted, made stacks and converted the pan; welded up magneto mount, all pretty much per plans. I ordered a prop drawing from Orrin Hoopman and will carve a prop this winter and start on metal fittings. I live in a small apartment with my 19 year old son so I don't have much room for big structures yetÑbut I can get all the smaller items made including ribs, empennage, etc. I have the Sport Aviation article on Frank Pavliga's Sky Gypsy. It's just how I would like to build mine.

New member Patrick McKenna (PO Box 8973, Alyus OK 73522) writes "30 Oct 95 - ''I m a recent Air Force Civil Service retiree with time on my hands. My EAA membership lapsed in the mid 60's while on assignment in Germany and I drifted to other hobbies. Collected Corvairs in the past and still have a few engines in storage at my son's in Colorado Springs. Guess all this makes me an ideal candidate to tackle an Air Camper.

Tom C. Brown (501 E. 4th St., Tucson AZ 85705) joined us in November. Welcome, Tom!

So did William Ax (100 W. Margaret, Terre Haute IN 47802)

And Richard Krupp (41 Mullen St. Tonawanda NY 14150-5423 is back with us.

Inactive CFI Anthony Clarke (1206 Sledge Ave., Memphis TN 38104) has about three years into his Mini-Max; now he's thinking about a two-place Air Camper. He's like to talk to others about scrounging for materials.

via email - ''I am looking for people in my area to help with my Pietenpol Air Camper. I started my project January 1995; I started by cutting up all the wooden pieces for the ribs, and now I am assembling them I have two completed. The plans are from the 1932 Flying and Glider Manual. I inter all the coordinates in to AutoCAD and can now plot out full size templates. I would like sign up for the newsletter, and I like to get more information on plans for the three piece wing? Thanks Ken Hannan'' (27576 Commerce Center Dr. Suite 108 Temecula, CA 92590 - HannanK @ aol.com)

'' ... Saw Mike Cuy's (7720 Center Road, Valley City OH 44280-9520) Air Camper project a few weeks ago. (The readers will see some great pics. next issue. gem) Got to admit ... I've never seen better workmanship in any airplane at any time anywhere. That guy's really got the touch. Earl Meyer's (12310 Ravenna Ave. NE, Louisville OH 44641) Scout is shaping up as well. He's really taking his time covering and I know this one is going to be a beauty, too.'' Those word from Frank Pavliga (2571 State Route 44, Rootstown OH 44272)

Larry Huber (1555 Hwy 42, PO Box 333, Maplewood WI 54226-0333) has a few ribs built and he has a line on a running Corvair engine out of a VP-1. He's now a computer consultant and part-time instructor at a technical college. The change in jobs has cut into his model and Piet building time.