Pietenpol Air Camper
High Wing – Wood/Steel Tube
B.H. Pietenpol, the designer of the Air Camper, is deceased. Plans are available for this aircraft from his son:
Andrew Pietenpol
W10695 566th Ave
Prescott, WI 54021
Phone: 715-293-2195
Email: BHP.and.sons.air.camper.aircraft@gmail.com
Website: Official Pietenpol Air Camper Family website
Pietenpol Plus Plans available from:
Doc’s Piet Shop
PO Box 1001
Neenah, WI 54957
Email: thepietshop@gmail.com
www.docspietshop.com
The “plus” plans include “shop size” 18” x 24” copies of the 1934 series of eight original plans to build the “Improved Air Camper” as drawn by Orrin Hoopman. These are the same plans as sold by Bernard Pietenpol and Orrin Hoopman, and later by Don Pietenpol. Also includes the following supplemental information:
- Modern Mechanics steel tube fuselage
- Vi Kapler 3-piece wing center section per BHP design
- Longer wood fuselage for Corvair engine
- Weight and balance sheet for Corvair longer fuselage
- Wing rib layout
- Modern Mechanics 1932 wood landing gear
- Corvair engine mount
- Continental engine mount
- Full size wing rib drawing to make rib
The first Air Camper drawings were published in Modern Mechanics and Inventions magazine and are still in reprint in EAA’s "1932 Glider and Flying Manual".
Engine Notes:
Bernard Pietenpol designed the Air Camper (2-place) and Sky Scout (1-place) to be powered with Model "A" and "T" engines, he also used Corvair engines. His designs have been powered with many other engines.
Model A engine contact:
Ken Perkins
1480 North Mart-Way Drive
Olathe, KS 66061
Telephone: 913-764-6949
William Wynne
The Corvair Authority
5000-18 Hwy 17 #247
Orange Park, FL 32003
Corvair engine info can be found at http://www.flycorvair.com.
Manuals:
The 1932 Flying and Glider Manual has information on the Pietenpol Air Camper and the Ford motor conversion. Stock # 21-14170. The 1933 Flying and Glider Manual has information on the Pietenpol Seaplane Floats, stock #21-14171. The other 1929,1930 and 1931 Flying and Glider Manuals have good information but nothing on the Pietenpol. These manuals are available from EAA 800-843-3612.
Video:
Michael Cuy, Berea. OH, has a video that he sells on the Pietenpol Air Camper. E-mail is:michael.d.cuy@grc.nasa.gov or go to website: http://users.aol.com/bpabpabpa/cuyvideo.html
EAA video on Pietenpol gathering at AirVenture, “70 Years of the Pietenpol Air Camper”.
Clubs/Associations:
Brodhead Pietenpol Association
2424 American Lane
Madison, WI 53704
608-443-2408
Website: http://www.pietenpols.org
International Pietenpol Association
Robert L. Taylor, Editor
P. O. Box 127
Blakesburg, IA 52536
Telephone: 515-938-2773
Articles in EAA and related publications:
| Year | Month | Page | Magazine | Article |
| 2009 | 03 | 12 | Sport Pilot | Pietenpol Air Camper Turns 80: Group flight to Oshkosh, special activities planned for AirVenture 2/3 pg |
| 2008 | 11 | 66 | Sport Aviation | Bliss in Marriage, Aviation Style – Members forum, Pietenpol owner Oscar Zuniga 2/3 pg |
| 2008 | 02 | 24 | Sport Aviation | Joining Hands: Building a Rotec-Powered Pietenpol 7 pg by Jim Busha |
| 2007 | 12 | 41 | Sport Pilot | Members Forum: Affordable Airplanes—an excerpt from Pietenpol website 1 pg |
| 2007 | 09 | 102 | Sport Aviation | Pietenpol Girls Pick Up Steam: AirVenture experience energizes their dreams 6 ½ pg |
| 2007 | 04 | 30 | Sport Aviation | The Pietenpol Kids: Montana students restore historic aircraft by Patrick Kennedy 8 pg |
| 2007 | 03 | 74 | Sport Aviation | Builder Workshops: EAA Chapter 1279 5 1/3 pg |
| 2006 | 12 | 68 | Sport Aviation | Pietenpol Builder’s Advice to Editor ½ pg |
| 2006 | 12 | 33 | Vintage Airplane | Book Reviews: The Pietenpol Story by Chet Peek |
| 2006 | 05 | 72 | Sport Aviation | Know Your Roots: The time-tested design of a Pietenpol Air Camper (2 pg) |
| 2004 | 03 | 80 | Sport Aviation | Airport Kid’s Piet (2 pgs) Ryan Fox, 13 yrs old |
| 2004 | 03 | 08 | Sport Aviation | Pietenpol Observation (Members Forum-1/3 pg) |
| 2004 | 01 | 44 | Sport Aviation | Pietenpol Passion: Larry Williams’ Air Camper Makes Flying Something Special (10 pgs) by Jack Cox |
| 2003 | 06 | 68 | Sport Aviation | Model A Aero Engine (1 col) |
| 2002 | 08 | 78 | Sport Aviation | Homebuilding’s Heritage #6: Pietenpol Air Camper (1 pg) |
| 2001 | 10 | 09 | Experimenter | Wisconsin Wonderland (photo & caption) |
| 2001 | 03 | 52 | Experimenter | Steven J. Beland’s Pietenpol (1/3 page) |
| 2001 | 01 | 83 | Sport Aviation | Wm Wynne's Pietenpol Restoration (photo & caption) |
| 2000 | 11 | 28 | Experimenter | Wm. Wynne's Pietenpol at AirVenture 2000 (photo & caption) |
| 2000 | 08 | 84 | Sport Aviation | Perkins Air Camper, Ford Model A, Fahlin wood prop (photo & caption only) |
| 2000 | 02 | 31 | Experimenter | Flying the Pietenpol Air Camper (5 pages w/ photos) |
| 2000 | 02 | 74 | Sport Aviation | Gildersleeve stretched Air Camper (photo & caption only) |
| 2000 | 01 | 7 | Experimenter | Constructing a Pietenpol (5 pages w/ photos) |
| 99 | 12 | 7 | Experimenter | Power for the Pietenpol, Then and Now (5 pages w/ photos) |
| 99 | 12 | 41 | Sport Aviation | The Pietenpol Air Camper (13 pages w/ color photos) |
| 99 | 11 | 8 | Experimenter | Appreciating Bernie Pietenpol (5 pages w/ pictures) |
| 98 | 02 | 23 | Experimenter | Rick Crosslin’s GN-1 - A Great Airplane For The Budget-Conscious Builder (4 pg w/color photos) |
| 98 | 02 | 30 | Sport Aviation | The Pietenpol Sky Scout ( 5 pg w/color photos) |
| 96 | 05 | 25 | Experimenter | Pietenpol NX17WR - Some Thoughts on Building and Flying It... (4 pages w/ photos) |
| 94 | 12 | 109 | Sport Aviation | Luxford Camper w/A65 |
| 94 | 11 | 118 | Sport Aviation | Van Walker Camper w/A65 |
| 94 | 09 | 19 | Vintage Airplane | Hedeman Camper w/Ford Model A |
| 94 | 08 | 117 | Sport Aviation | Kenney Camper w/A65, Honda wheels/brakes... |
| 94 | 08 | 118 | Sport Aviation | Miller A65 Camper |
| 94 | 08 | 37 | Experimenter | Rewey Air Camper w/A65 |
| 94 | 04 | 106 | Sport Aviation | Miller Air Camper w/A65 |
| 94 | 04 | 14 | Experimenter | Malley Pietenpol w/geared Fiesta |
| 93 | 11 | 13 | Sport Aviation | Newsletter - Buckeye Pietenpol Association |
| 93 | 03 | 37 | Experimenter | Mann 3/4 scale Pietenpol |
| 93 | 01 | 94 | Sport Aviation | Buckley Model A powered Air Camper |
| 93 | 01 | 22 | Vintage Airplane | Weeden/Davis w/70hp LeBlond on skis |
| 92 | 11 | 103 | Sport Aviation | Anderson plans-built w/A65 |
| 92 | 09 | 92 | Sport Aviation | A Pietenpol built in 1930 |
| 91 | 08 | 22 | Experimenter | Don Higgs Pietenpol Air Camper w/Ford Model B engine |
| 91 | 08 | 23 | Experimenter | Bernie Pietenpol's Corvair-powered |
| 91 | 03 | 83 | Sport Aviation | Vogt Grega Air Camper w/A75 e/w 743 lbs. |
| 91 | 01 | 25 | Sport Aviation | The Old Granddaddy Pietenpol Air Camper |
| 90 | 06 | 10 | Sport Aviation | Dean newly restored mid ‘30s Air Camper |
| 90 | 05 | B | Experimenter | Eggs painting of Pietenpol over England... |
| 90 | 04 | 07 | Sport Aviation | Help Preserve Pietenpol Air Camper 12937 |
| 90 | 04 | 42 | Sport Aviation | Pietenpol's First 60 Years |
| 90 | 04 | 45 | Sport Aviation | A Round Engine Pietenpol! |
| 90 | 02 | 56 | Sport Aviation | Hoosier very original Air Camper |
| 90 | 02 | 38 | Experimenter | Front seat cushion jams brake, causes crash |
| 89 | 12 | 30 | Experimenter | Vahary Steel Tube Pietenpol |
| 89 | 11 | 95 | Sport Aviation | Dahler Pietenpol - with Steel Tube Fuselage, Grega Wings |
| 89 | 02 | 16 | Sport Aviation | Henderson Model A Ford Powered Pietenpol |
| 88 | 11 | 97 | Sport Aviation | Rickard's Pietenpol - With A65 & Full Cowling |
| 88 | 9 | 28 | Experimenter | Kanewske Pietenpol - With Kawasaki 38hp |
| 88 | 4 | C,19 | Experimenter | Bernie Pietenpol's Pietenpol - Ageless Design |
| 88 | 2 | 92 | Sport Aviation | Pavigla Air Camper - With Model A, Wire Wheels |
| 87 | 12 | 11 | Vintage Airplane | Three Piece Wing Modification |
| 87 | 3 | 39 | Light Plane World | Low Airspeed Readings |
| 87 | 3 | 48 | Sport Aviation | England's First Air Camper - With C90 |
| 87 | 2 | 96 | Sport Aviation | Meredith Grega Air Camper-With A80 |
| 86 | 10 | 96 | Sport Aviation | Air Camper with 2 Cylinder Franklin engine |
| 86 | 9 | 6 | Sport Aviation | First Arrival at Oshkosh '86 (19 yr old girl from FL) |
| 86 | 7 | 6 | Vintage Airplane | Frank Pavliga Sky Gypsy |
| 86 | 2 | 27 | Sport Aviation | Kroll Air Camper with Corvair |
| 85 | 3 | 12 | Light Plane World | Bob Nevin's Air Camper with Model A engine |
| 85 | 2 | 42 | Sport Aviation | Frank Pavliga's Sky Gypsy with Model A |
| 84 | 5 | 38 | Sport Aviation | Merle Neyman's modernized, Franklin powered Pietenpol |
| 84 | 3 | 38 | Sport Aviation | Tom Nolan's Air Camper |
| 82 | 9 | 20 | Vintage Airplane | Ivan Junton's Ford B powered Pietenpol |
| 82 | 9 | 58 | Sport Aviation | A Pietenpol for the 80's |
| 82 | 2 | 32 | Sport Aviation | Casey Irwin's low wing Air Camper |
| 82 | 1 | 22 | Sport Aviation | Paul Custine's Model A powered Pietenpol (photo only) |
| 81 | 11 | 14 | Vintage Airplane | Article |
| 81 | 10 | 19 | Vintage Airplane | Article |
| 81 | 9 | 10 | Sport Aviation | Pietenpol Aerial Biplane - newsletter available |
| 81 | 9 | 16 | Vintage Airplane | Plans for SkyScout (1933 reprint) |
| 81 | 3 | 44 | Sport Aviation | Willie Pietenpol Aerial Biplane with Radial |
| 80 | 11 | 38 | Sport Aviation | Ford Fiesta Powered Pietenpol Air Camper |
| 79 | 2 | 68 | Sport Aviation | Air Camper Powered with Kinner Radial |
| 78 | 10 | 8 | Sport Aviation | 51st Anniversary |
| 78 | 2 | BC | Sport Aviation | Painting |
| 78 | 1 | 64 | Sport Aviation | 85 H.P. Pietenpol |
| 77 | 6 | 19 | Sport Aviation | Luckey GN-1, (Photo Only) |
| 77 | 2 | 26 | Sport Aviation | Corvair Powered Pietenpol by Pietenpol |
| 75 | 11 | 11 | Vintage Airplane | DA 1933 Homebuilt |
| 75 | 6 | 36 | Sport Aviation | Chapter 148's Pietenpol |
| 74 | 6 | 21 | Sport Aviation | Accident Information |
| 72 | 12 | 7 | Sport Aviation | Jury Struts |
| 72 | 11 | 31 | Sport Aviation | Sky Scout |
| 70 | 9 | 42 | Sport Aviation | Corvair Conversion |
| 70 | 5 | 38 | Sport Aviation | SESport Aviation Conversion |
| 70 | 9 | 53 | Sport Aviation | Pietenpol Price Notice |
| 69 | 7 | 24 | Sport Aviation | Old Pete |
| 68 | 2 | 26 | Sport Aviation | N 8001R |
| 66 | 10 | 18 | Sport Aviation | A Mother and Son Project |
| 64 | 1 | 18 | Sport Aviation | MacGillivray's PMF |
| 61 | 10 | 28 | Sport Aviation | Riding in Rockford's Wonderful Air Camper |
| 60 | 8 | 16 | Sport Aviation | Modernizing |
| 59 | 12 | 25 | Sport Aviation | Rudder Horn Location on Pietenpol |
| 57 | 12 | 12 | Sport Aviation | How to build floats for Pietenpol |
| 57 | 11 | 19 | Sport Aviation | Modernizing Landing Gear |
| 56 | 5 | 7 | Sport Aviation | Air Camper |
| 56 | 1 | 16 | Sport Aviation | Seiler Air Camper |
| 55 | 7 | CV | Sport Aviation | Cover Photograph |
| 54 | 11 | 08 | Sport Aviation | A-65 Piper cowl modified Air Camper |
EAA members can digitally view archived editions of EAA Sport Aviation here.
