This Model A engine will really fly........

I've ridden in an A powered Peitenpol. Its the best flying in the world! The radiator placement is not a problem at all.
 
I have the conversion plans to convert an 'A' engine to fit into a Pietenpol, if anybody is brave enough. I'm certainly not. The plan looks great on the wall though. Send me a PM.
 
Gar, Very nice job, have you flown it in the past with the sick engine? I have read quite a bit about the Model T powered Pietenpol but not much about the A. They were of course quite concerned with making the T lighter even lightening the block but it only had half the HP.

What kind of air speed can you get w/an A powered model? I remember some comic mentioning that in the T power version you did not need an air speed indicator as a calender would do fine.

My profession is rebuilding antique engines and vintage racing engines. From my experience you may want to think about using forged pistons for safety purposes.
 
Beautiful aircraft! I will bet it is a lot more fun to fly than the C-172 I normally fly. Airplane and Model A experience wrapped into one neat package-great!
 
t-head said:
Gar, Very nice job, have you flown it in the past with the sick engine? I have read quite a bit about the Model T powered Pietenpol but not much about the A. They were of course quite concerned with making the T lighter even lightening the block but it only had half the HP.

What kind of air speed can you get w/an A powered model? I remember some comic mentioning that in the T power version you did not need an air speed indicator as a calender would do fine.

My profession is rebuilding antique engines and vintage racing engines. From my experience you may want to think about using forged pistons for safety purposes.
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T-Head: As I recall, the T engine has only been used in the Pietenpol "Scout" which is a single place, slightly smaller version of the Aircamper. The original Pietenpol built T powered Scout still exists and I saw it fly at the mecca of Pietenpols, Brodhead, WI some years ago. It was my understanding that the engine had been highly modified internally using at least a Model A crank.

The Aircamper flies very well with the Model A although many examples have been built with other small aircraft engines which does generally give the pilot at least the feeling of more reliability. I would personally much rather have a small Continental aircraft engine up front for any cross country flying. With the Model A running somewhere in the 1800 - 1900 rpm range you can generally count on 70 MPH. The same comic might say that the Aircamper is so slow it gets bug strikes on the trailing edge of the surfaces!

I have yet to fly the example that I now own but had another A powered Aircamper for a very long time, restored and flew the original Pietenpol built Model A "Scout" (both pictured), and repaired and flew a 65 Continental powered Aircamper for awhile. I have had an Aircamper "under construction" in my own shop for thirty years! I have a B for it.

It would be interesting to use a forged piston but I don't know of a source. I am aware that Rich Falluca, Antique Engines, has contracted to have a lighter, stronger piston made so that he can get away from using the SBC pistons with the the smaller pins. I don't know if they will be forged pistons.

Gar Williams
 

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Man that's the coolest. Someday I'll figure out how to get my Pietenpol going. I have alot of gathered parts but no place or space right now. That is certainly some good motivation.


Happy times to you,

Tim
 
Aerocraft said:
Don, I would enjoy that but, since my wife can't drive, I have no way to get both the airplane and our antigue Bowlus camping trailer to OSH. A number of local midwest Pietenpol owners have been talking about flying their Model A powered airplanes to the meet but nobody has committed as far as I know.

To do that, it would be best if the airplanes could use Pioneer Airport. It probably will be closed for the week.

Gar Williams
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This is an update regarding the Pioneer Airport. The EAA museum and the Pioneer Airport is still open during the MARC meet. Pay admission at the Museum. The MARC meet registration includes the admission if you attend the meet. Gar, we would love to see your plane at the meet.
We think we have a Pietenpol flying in. We do not yet have confirmation that the Pioneer Airport has approved his flight schedule. We hope to know soon so we can spread the word. Don/WI Treasurer-2012 MARC National Meet
 
Cool Hand Lurker said:
Maybe a stupid question but why don't small aircraft use mufflers? It sure would make them more comfortable to fly.
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Prop noise and airflow noise make quite a din. Mufflers rob a little bit of power which can make the difference between life and death in an already underpowered plane. Even mufffled, most small planes make an enormous racket in the cockpit. The benefit of using a muffler does not outweigh the cost in power, even though it isn't that much. I used to own a 1955 Piper Apache with twin Lycoming O- 320s which dumped the exhaust into openended sheet metal cylinders call augmentor tubes. I could shake the foundations of any house I buzzed if I put the props full forward and firewalled the throttles as I flew over. The engine on my 1965 Cherokee 180 is mufflered, but I still can't hear anybody talk in the cabin over the prop and airstream noise. Any plane powered by a Ford T or A engine is inherently under powered and very noisy anyways. It wouldn't make much difference sound level wise by putting a muffler on it and it sure would reduce the power available to the pilot.
 
My Bonanza was somewhat noisy. All I hear flying behind a Model A engine is "Ford" music..................... Gar Williams
 
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