Pietenpol or GN-1; Are they different?

[Wingless Nut]

Could anyone tell me if there are significant differences between the original Piet and the GN-1 Aircamper, and what these are? I am seriously considering building a Piet, and need to know which of the 2 designs can accommodate the higher payload. Also, if anyone has built one with either the Jabiru 2200 or VW 2.2 fitted, I would like to make contact.

[Junkie]

Talk to the Brady Bunch at next Club meet or meet them at Morningstar - im sure youll get all the low down on these interesting flyers

[Redeye]

My wife and I owned 2 piets- One was a Greager moded design- The GN 1 is a single seater- Forget about VW and Jab motors unless the 120 hp Jab but the nose will be so long it will look weird- I had a C90 in mine and my wife had a O200 (100 HP) Continentals- It was just enough power with 2 peaple- They are cheap fun planes but become dogs to fly if you overload them- I once went from FAKR to Nylstroom with 90 litres of gas and a 90kg pax- We climbed out on a cold morning at under 50 fpm-

Think of them as singe seaters at Reef altitudes

[Rudix]

My wife and I owned 2 piets- One was a Greager moded design- The GN 1 is a single seater- Forget about VW and Jab motors unless the 120 hp Jab but the nose will be so long it will look weird- I had a C90 in mine and my wife had a O200 (100 HP) Continentals- It was just enough power with 2 peaple- They are cheap fun planes but become dogs to fly if you overload them- I once went from FAKR to Nylstroom with 90 litres of gas and a 90kg pax- We climbed out on a cold morning at under 50 fpm-

Think of them as singe seaters at Reef altitudes

Hi Everyone !

The GN-1 is NOT a single seater ! It is a 2 seater like all the Pietenpol Aircampers, the Scout was the single seater.

See: http://www.pilotfriend.com/experimental/acft3/55.htm

There are Pietenpol's flying with the Jabiru 2200, but, it is a light engine so CG is a problem, and a long nose is not a good solution. The 3300 would be a better option.

Performance at high altitude, like the reef, depends on weight and engine power/prop, there are Piet's flying in Colorado, a lot higher than JHB ! and they are still treated as 2 seaters. I think 110+ hp would be good here on the reef, that combined with a light "read - un-beefed up" airframe and the right prop (important) will give you good performance.

If you decide to go for the Piet I am sure it will give you lots of fun !

Safe flying,
Rudi