Comments on: Pietenpol's DIY airplane: "a common man's airplane" http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 01:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Moriarty http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699409 Moriarty Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699409 By 1940, we'll all be flying to work! By 1940, we’ll all be flying to work!

]]> By: cowtown http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-698948 cowtown Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698948 And to think, my wife thought I was a little nuts when I said I wanted to build a homemade GUITAR! And to think, my wife thought I was a little nuts when I said I wanted to build a homemade GUITAR!

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-698953 nixiebunny Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698953 My stepfather built one of these in the 1970s. It was either that or get his degree in mechanical engineering. He regretted not getting the degree, but I think he got way more joy out of the airplane than anyone could get from a degree. His log books list hundreds of passengers. He died a couple years back, and his plane was bought by a guy who will give you a ride in it. It's in Willcox, AZ. Here's the plane: http://www.nixiebunny.com/pietenpol/ My stepfather built one of these in the 1970s. It was either that or get his degree in mechanical engineering. He regretted not getting the degree, but I think he got way more joy out of the airplane than anyone could get from a degree. His log books list hundreds of passengers.

He died a couple years back, and his plane was bought by a guy who will give you a ride in it. It’s in Willcox, AZ.

Here’s the plane:
http://www.nixiebunny.com/pietenpol/

]]> By: maxoid http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-698981 maxoid Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698981 kind of like a fischer classic kit-biplane, i suppose, but cheaper. similar aesthetic, anyway...in fact, i like it a little more. personally, i'd like the plans to build my own transavia pl-12 airtruk, the nerdiest of all small aircraft. kind of like a fischer classic kit-biplane, i suppose, but cheaper. similar aesthetic, anyway…in fact, i like it a little more.

personally, i’d like the plans to build my own transavia pl-12 airtruk, the nerdiest of all small aircraft.

]]> By: Chas44 http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-698987 Chas44 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698987 Each fall in southern Wisconsin, the Pietenpol folks have a fly-in, and it's quite a sight to see a field full of them. The Piet is "basic flying" at its best. Each fall in southern Wisconsin, the Pietenpol folks have a fly-in, and it’s quite a sight to see a field full of them. The Piet is “basic flying” at its best.

]]> By: efergus3 http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-698992 efergus3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-698992 The PL12. Ahh, Mad Max. Love the looks. The PL12. Ahh, Mad Max. Love the looks.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699766 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699766 rebdav: If paying ~$100 or so for plans is an impediment, you really shouldn't be thinking about building a plane. rebdav: If paying ~$100 or so for plans is an impediment, you really shouldn’t be thinking about building a plane.

]]> By: douchesniper http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699002 douchesniper Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699002 I think you mean "partially built" for less than $2000. He isn't very far along. I think you mean “partially built” for less than $2000. He isn’t very far along.

]]> By: efergus3 http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699005 efergus3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699005 PL12 forum: http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=civil&action=display&thread=6108 PL12 forum: http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=civil&action=display&thread=6108

]]> By: Roy Trumbull http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699020 Roy Trumbull Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699020 Then there's the $7000 or more of radio and navigation gear. On weekends there's little diff between a metro general aviation field and a bee hive. Then there’s the $7000 or more of radio and navigation gear. On weekends there’s little diff between a metro general aviation field and a bee hive.

]]> By: George William Herbert http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699276 George William Herbert Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699276 Perusing Aircraft Spruce's avionics page ( http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/av/index.html ) I find: Cheapest ELT about $800 Cheapest COM about $1050 (though a lot of cheaper Ham Radio handhelds can be programmed to work on aviation frequencies and are used by many pilots) Cheapest Transponder is around $1750 You could probably work it all in for $3k. Used equipment? Probably half that. Perusing Aircraft Spruce’s avionics page ( http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/av/index.html ) I find:

Cheapest ELT about $800
Cheapest COM about $1050 (though a lot of cheaper Ham Radio handhelds can be programmed to work on aviation frequencies and are used by many pilots)
Cheapest Transponder is around $1750

You could probably work it all in for $3k. Used equipment? Probably half that.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699298 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699298 For the most part, if you're willing to stay in Class G airspace, you don't need any radios at all (the major exception is when you're within 30 nautical miles of the center of a Class B--generally major commercial airports like O'Hare and LAX--in which case you only need the transponder). Add a COM and you're good to go for anything below 18,000ft. In aviation, everything gets about 5x more expensive when you put it in the panel: iCom and Sporty's both sell handheld NAV/COMs for around $300. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to had a Garmin 196, or similar. For the most part, if you’re willing to stay in Class G airspace, you don’t need any radios at all (the major exception is when you’re within 30 nautical miles of the center of a Class B–generally major commercial airports like O’Hare and LAX–in which case you only need the transponder). Add a COM and you’re good to go for anything below 18,000ft.

In aviation, everything gets about 5x more expensive when you put it in the panel: iCom and Sporty’s both sell handheld NAV/COMs for around $300. It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to had a Garmin 196, or similar.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699302 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699302 Oops, I meant "Add a COM to the transponder..." You certainly can't go everywhere below 18k with just the COM. Oops, I meant “Add a COM to the transponder…” You certainly can’t go everywhere below 18k with just the COM.

]]> By: rebdav http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699573 rebdav Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699573 Does anyone know of decent plans for free on the net? Since my teens I have dreamed of the used air-cooled VW motor, pine and plywood DIY airplane. Does anyone know of decent plans for free on the net? Since my teens I have dreamed of the used air-cooled VW motor, pine and plywood DIY airplane.

]]> By: coda6 http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699090 coda6 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699090 There are still DIY airplanes out there, Kitfox is a good example: http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/ There are still DIY airplanes out there,

Kitfox is a good example: http://www.kitfoxaircraft.com/

]]> By: BikerRay http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699361 BikerRay Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699361 Our local EAA club built one a number of years back. I got a ride in it once to take some pictures of our property... http://picasaweb.google.com/westcarleton/Property#5214321858230000290 Nice plane, and fun being in an open cockpit. Our local EAA club built one a number of years back. I got a ride in it once to take some pictures of our property…
http://picasaweb.google.com/westcarleton/Property#5214321858230000290
Nice plane, and fun being in an open cockpit.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699374 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699374 The Pl-12 is a wonderfuly ugly/cute antipodean sesquiplane, but not, I think, particularly suited to homebuilding. The Pl-12 is a wonderfuly ugly/cute antipodean sesquiplane, but not, I think, particularly suited to homebuilding.

]]> By: thequickbrownfox http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699120 thequickbrownfox Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699120 Larry Linville (Frank Burns in MASH) designed, built and flew his own plane. But he did study aeronautical engineering. Larry Linville (Frank Burns in MASH) designed, built and flew his own plane.

But he did study aeronautical engineering.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699377 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699377 --And of course, my local airport is CGS (College Park, MD) so skimping on radios is NOT an option 'round here. –And of course, my local airport is CGS (College Park, MD) so skimping on radios is NOT an option ’round here.

]]> By: gollux http://boingboing.net/2010/01/27/pietenpols-diy-airplane.html#comment-699127 gollux Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-699127 Limit to ELT, Transponder and COM for VFR flight only and you can keep the avionics expense down. Limit to ELT, Transponder and COM for VFR flight only and you can keep the avionics expense down.

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