Matthew Arata writes . . .
Subj: Senior Project Update
Date: Sun, Mar 24, 1996 11:48 PM EDT
From: aratam@pr.erau.edu
X-From: aratam@pr.erau.edu (Matthew Arata)
To: GMacLaren@aol.com
Dear Grant:
Was surprised (slightly, almost dropped keyboard!) to find my name in the mailbag (#50 . . . gem) in the BPA homepage. I started building my Air Camper for my senior project in high school. Here's a short history.
1) January 1993: ordered plans from Don Pietenpol -- 1933 new & improved. No materials 'cause I was out of money. (I live on a farm/dairy and paydays are ffaaaarrrr apart.)
2) August 1994: received materials from Wicks; enough spruce for fuselage and tubing for landing gear. Football season starting, so materials sit in shed.
3) December 1994: Christmas break -- cut spruce for first side of fuselage.
4) February 1995: Took fuselage side in house so glue would be warm enough to dry (10 degrees outside at night). Left it too close to heater and charred about 2 square feet of plywood of front cockpit. Almost burned house down.
5) April 1995: Had burn fixed, both sides completed. Time was up, had to give senior project presentation. Turned out very well. (I graduated. Judges were impressed.)
6) Summer of 1995: Between irrigating, feeding cows, baling hay, fuselage woodwork was completed (fun to sit in) and landing gear started.
7) August 1995: Left for college -- Prescott Arizona, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, studying electrical engineering, Air Force ROTC scholarship. Piet on hold. Calculus and chemistry are tough!!!!
8) January 1996: Ordered materials for wing ribs from Wicks (real good outfit, excellent service. Will recommend to anybody).
9) January til now: Building wing ribs in my dorm room. Roommate loves it. Especially when I get sawdust all over heck. Highly recommended to all Pietenpol builders: TRY BUILDING YOUR PLANE IN A COLLEGE DORM ROOM.
HINT #1!!! Use plans for wall paper, cover up roommates stupid posters.
HINT #2!!! Invite everyone over, especially the ladies, to look at plane. Nobody believes until they see with their own eyes.
As of now, I have 3 ribs done. When this semester gets over, I'm heading back to Bonanza, OR, to work on the farm and work on my Piet, and give the dorm and roommate chance to recover. Will send picture ASAP. If I get enough done this summer I'll bring the whole works down next fall. Anyway, that's the gist of it. Piet's make a good high school senior project. I'm 19 now. Hope to be flying next summer.
By the way, I'm thinking Subaru or Continental for power. Any comments? Everything is exactly per plans. May even keep tail skid since I'm going to fly off my farm.
Watch those power lines!
Matthew Arata
Bonanza, OR,
Prescott, AZ
aratam@pr.erau.edu
(Please reply so I know whether this darn thing works.)
BPA Newsletter editor and web builder
Grant MacLaren
may be reached via email at
GMacLaren@aol.com
RETURN TO BPA HOME PAGE