Larry (and other potential smokers)- there are several systems being used by Pietenpol builders/flyers for a simple smoke system. The very simplest, ala Mike Cuy, features your standard Wal-Mart garden sprayer with pump handle. Mike ran the output from his pump-up sprayer to a boss welded on to the aftmost, starboard site exhaust stub of his A-65 and drilled two small holes into the pipe for the oil to trickle into the exhaust. Details available... email me off the net.
Another common setup, not used by many Pietenpolers because it requires 12VDC, is the windshield washer pump and reservoir off any junked car. Similar setup for the exhaust stub dribbler. One guy has "injectors" to all four exhaust stubs out of his engine, but that uses the smoke oil up quicker and it's really overkill. Obviously, the windshield washer setup is very simple... especially if you have an unused pickle switch or coolie switch on your stick grip. Otherwise, just install any sort of pushbutton or momentary-contact switch to energize the smoke. I am home-brewing my own smoke system using an aftermarket oil filler neck/cap from a VW, and two discarded propane cylinders from home-type propane torches. One cylinder will have the valve stem from an old inner tube brazed to it, allowing it to be pressurized with air using an air compressor, to provide the motive force for the oil, which is in the second cylinder. The two are piped together. No electric power is required with this setup. This idea came from the very simple and effective smoke system that Leonard Milholland designed for use on his "Legal Eagle" ultralight, which system was written up in EAA Experimenter a few years back. Leonard even uses the standard propane valve and part of the propane torch nozzle on his setup, with the cylinder mounted upside-down to one of the fuselage framing tubes with hose clamps and a line fitted to what used to be the propane torch tip. He pressurizes the partially-oil-filled cylinder before takeoff. Obviously, this type of setup holds very little oil and is only good for short runs. You can use different types of mineral oils to make smoke, including the standard "Canopus oil", which is used by most airshow performers and was developed for use as a form release agent for concrete construction forms. You can also use baby oil and other oils... there's a whole bunch of good information out there on oils to use (Google will help you find them; search for 'smoke oil' or 'airshow smoke' or similar). It's a little sensitive as to where and how you make a smoke run, given the post-9/11 paranoia these days. Oscar Zuniga San Antonio, TX mailto: taildr...@hotmail.com website at http://www.flysquirrel.net
