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PRESS RELEASE
The EAA AirVenture Museum
Norfolk, VA - May, 2008
The EAA’s AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is known for its airplane collection. Countless people who are not pilots visit the museum each year and experience the excitement of flying. They include antique car fans that enjoy seeing restorations in progress in the museum’s glass-windowed shop. Many of them are surprised to see a home-built aircraft with a Model A Ford auto engine.Bernard H. Pietenpol, considered by many to be “the Father of Homebuilt Aircraft, was a native of Cherry Grove, Minnesota, and was dedicated to the concept of building low-cost airplanes the average man could afford. Pietenpol took up flying in the ‘20s. He constructed the first of 20 airplanes he built in 1923. This plane used a Ford Model T engine. In 1928, Pietenpol built a single-seat airplane using wood purchased at a local lumberyard. He visited a blacksmith to have fittings made. The wood framework of the open-cockpit monoplane was covered with bedding material sealed with clear varnish. Gas pipe and motorcycle wheels made up the landing gear. Pietenpol carved a propeller from black walnut. An Ace four-cylinder engine was used. This prototype “Air Camper” took its maiden flight on September 10 and was flown over 50 hours in just two months.As the Air Camper’s design was refined over a five-year period, it became a two seater with a Model A Ford engine. In April of 1930, Pietenpol brought two of the Ford-powered airplanes to Minneapolis where he demonstrated them for the editor of Modern Mechanics magazine. This proved to the public that an airplane with a car engine could fly. Plans for the Pietenpol Air Camper were published in Modern Mechanics in 1931. They also appeared in the magazine’s Flying andGlider Manual in 1932. By this time the Great Depression had hit and its economic impact put the then-new Model engine out of the hands of many home aircraft builders. Pietenpol reverted to the Model T power plant for a cheaper airplane called the “Sky Scout.” This model also got national exposure in Modern Mechanics and became the favorite homebuilt airplane of its day. In 1933, Pietenpol opened a small factory in Cherry Grove, Minnesota, to manufacture airplane bits and kits. Metal Air Camper parts were made there, while the wood parts were made in Wycoff, Minn. Pietenpol also converted Ford engines to aircraft use. Some complete airplanes were constructed, too. These were delivered by flying them out of a small grass airstrip west of Cherry Grove. The final design and drawings for the Pietenpol Air camper were completed in 1934. During the next seven years, planes with Model T, Model A and early Ford V-8 engines were built. In addition, Velie, Kinner, Lycoming, Franklin, and Continental engines were fitted. Production of kits and completed airplanes continued until 1941. During the World War II, Pietenpol was active in the Civilian Pilot's Training program. In the postwar years, Pietenpol earned money repairing televisions and radios, but continued his interest in car-engine aircraft. Using Chevrolet’s air-cooled Corvair engine, he built two additional aircraft in 1960 and 1964. The Corvair engine was lighter and more powerful than the Ford Model A engine. It was also quieter, smoother and more fuel efficient. This improved the performance of the Air Camper.The basic Air Camper design was the same used in the ‘30s, although the fuselage was lengthened to compensate for the lighter weight engine. These later planes had more legroom, as well as brakes and a tail wheel. An 8-gallon fuel tank was added in the nose. A radio, generator and battery were also added. A promotional flyer from the ‘60s read, “The Air Camper is a wood airplane made from spruce and plywood. It's intentionally designed to be simple to construct with minimum tools. All the fittings are fabricated from steel flat stock. The motor mount, landing gear and the wing struts require welding. Currently, I have plans available made from the original 1934 drawings. Also available are supplemental plans showing changes made to the original fuselage design and motor mounts for installation of either the Corvair or a Continental 65 engine.”Pietenpol’s original hanger and one of his last built planes are on display at the Pioneer Airport on the EAA grounds in Oshkosh. Andrew Pietenpol still flies one of his grandfather’s Corvair-powered planes. Together with Bernard Pietenpol’s son Donald, he continues selling Air Campers and plans to build one.Additional information about EAA AirVenture’s Museum and the Pietenpol Air Camper is available on-line at: www.airventuremuseum.org.
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