"First Flight of the Piet"
by George A. Grant
The Pietenpol (Pronounced "Pete in Poll") Air Camper, a wood and fabric, open-cockpit, high wing taildragger was designed by Bernard H. Pietenpol in 1929. It was designed to be a 'home-built- machine using a Model A Ford engine, converted for aircraft use.
The airplane was made from wood obtained at the local lumberyard, fittings fabricated from a blacksmith shop, and a covering of bed sheet material painted with clear varnish. The landing gear was constructed of gas pipe and motorcycle wheels. The prop was hand-carved from black walnut and powered by an Ace four cylinder water cooled engine. The airplane flew very well accumulating over fifty hours in the first two months.
The Air Camper was a two-seat version of the popular Pietenpol Sky-Scout single-seater,
powered by a Model T Ford engine. Pietenpol Sky-Scout and Air-Camper designs
appeared in the 1933 and 1932 issues (respectively) of the "Flying and Glider
Manual publication as plans for home-builders on a low budget to get the opportunity
to fly using readily available materials.
In 1933, a small factory was set up in Cherry Grove, Minnesota
to make the metal parts and convert the Ford A engines. Milling and wood work was done in
Wycoff, Minnesota. Airplane kits and aircraft materials were shipped from both
locations. Completed airplanes were flown from a small grass strip located west of
Cherry Grove. Throughout the years various engines were used: Ford A, Ford T, Ford
V8, Velie, Kinner, Lycoming, Franklin, and Continental, all with good results. Airplane
kits as well as completed airplanes were manufactured until the onset of W.W. II in 1941.
Pietenpol Air Camper
Their simple construction and appealing lines have helped them to remain popular choices amongst homebuilders to this day. There have been many variations of this popular airplane built by Pietenpol enthusiasts all over the world.
EAA's Pietenpol
One of the earliest Air Campers is preserved and on display at the EAA Air Venture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Old number 12937, "The Granddaddy Pietenpol Air Camper", was built in 1933 by Mr. Pietenpol and is considered the oldest existing Pietenpol-built aircraft in existence. In 1990, members of the Buckeye Pietenpol Assn. saved Air Camper N12937 from extinction by forming a corporation to preserve and display this important airplane.
