The grandson of Bernard Pietenpol, who is known as the Father of the Homebuilt Aircraft, has joined with Aircraft Spruce to offer Pietenpol Air Camper kits.
The revived Pietenpol Aircraft Company offers six wooden Sitka Spruce Official Pietenpol Air Camper component kits. Kits start at $17.50 for an Pietenpol Vertical Stabilizer kit.
Pietenpol’s flying legacy began in 1929 with the invention of the Pietenpol Air Camper. Pietenpol designed the original Ford Model A-powered Air Camper to be an affordable airplane that could be built by the common man with materials that could be purchased in a hardware store/lumber yard.
The Pietenpol Air Camper continues to be a successful design for the same reasons homebuilders were so fascinated by the design 86 years ago. It still has graceful styling, predictable flying qualities, and easy construction.
In the last 86 years the Pietenpol family has been offering Official Pietenpol Air Camper plans. During the 1930s and 1940s, Bernard Pietenpol offered Pietenpol Air Camper kits to the public.
After a 60-year absence of kit availability, Bernard’s grandson, Andrew, has reintroduced the kits.
A third generation Pietenpol pilot and Air Camper builder, Andrew is now at the helm of Pietenpol Aircraft Company, and recently completed a new website that highlights the history of Bernard H. Pietenpol, the Pietenpol Air Camper, basic Air Camper construction, and an insight into Bernard’s lifetime dedication to aviation, all captured in more than 500 never-seen photos. Many of these photos were taken by Bernard himself starting in the 1920s.
In addition, Pietenpol enthusiasts can add their current Pietenpol projects and completions to the website.