Builders.
I received an note from Bob Lester saying he is just a few hours from the 800 hour mark of Corvair power on his Pietenpol. He has done this in about 48 months. The airframe was built in the 1970s with a 65HP Lycoming, but bob bought it, did a lot of work to the plane, and has been logging hours on his 2,700cc Corvair ever since. Has off to Bob on this milestone.
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Above, Bob and his plane at CC #39 last month. The planes large wheels are Harley front mag wheels with smooth covers.
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For a look at some “Bob Stories”:
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Bob Lester’s 48 flight hour, 3400 mile Pietenpol adventure
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Power plant comparison:
Pietenpol Power: 100 hp Corvair vs 65 hp Lycoming
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Landing gear change:
New die spring landing gear on a Pietenpol, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
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Our Piet discussion group:
Piet Vair discussion group update, notes on joining
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Bob’s Piet and others at Barnwell:
Pietenpol Builders and Pilots at Corvair College #31.
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A look at a College where Bob gave a lot of rides:
Corvair College #33: Behind The Scenes
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Bob has been around Corvairs for a long time. Above he and Grace in 2005 at our old Edgewater hangar. They are eating ten pounds of boiled shrimp in the hangar’s “executive dining room.”
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Above Bob Lester and Steve Makish. These two old friends attended a number of early Colleges in a pair of Corvair powered KR-2s. Today Bob has his Corvair in his Pietenpol. They have known each other through 30 years of flying.
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Above, Bob Lester’s Corvair powered Pietenpol sits on the ramp at Barnwell at sunset on Saturday night at Corvair College #31.
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Above my favorite Bob Lester photo, where he naturally strikes the “Intrepid Aviator” pose with his Pietenpol at CC#25. He is good at this because he has seen every old aviation movie ever made. I have to coach other pilots on getting the pose right, but not Bob.
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wewjr.
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