Pietenpol Air Camper and Sky Scout Technical Information

Technical Information on The Original Pietenpol Air
Camper and Sky Scout Aircraft Plans from Bernard
Pietenpol's Family!

The Pietenpol Air Camper continues to be a
successful design for the same reasons
homebuilders were so fascinated by the design 67
years ago. It still has graceful styling, predictable
flying qualities, and easy construction.

Quote from Bernard H. Pietenpol - Cherry Grove,
Minnesota

"PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER . . The Original Model A
Powered Light Plane - Designed to get the best
possible performance from Model A motor, to be
easy to fly, and to get the most flying hours for the
money invested"

"Bernard Pietenpol never lost sight of the cost of
flying and showed his true genius in keeping it down
- within reach of the common man"

Bernard Pietenpol's Favorite Poem. One he believed
in and lived by!

Youth is not a time of life-it is a state of mind!
Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every human
being's heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing
child-like appetite of what's next, and the joy of the
game of living. In the center of your heart and my
heart there is a wireless station; so long as it
receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage
and power So long are you young!

Here we go............

What are Pietenpol Airplanes?

Pietenpol airplanes built to the plans of my father
or my grandfather Bernard H. Pietenpol are
straightforward, no-nonsense airplanes. They're
great for puddle jumping or even long cross country
trips. They fly low and slow, the same way they
have for over seven decades -- almost eight.

Pietenpol Airplanes (Air Camper and Sky Scout) are
low in cost, durable and most of all, FUN!! Probably
the biggest reason they are inexpensive to build is
that almost no aircraft rated-materials are required
by the design. They are durable because the
designer B.H. Pietenpol went out of his way to make
every part of the ship stronger than necessary.

We know of no failure of a Pietenpol ship that can
be attributed to its design.

In short, we have found the Pietenpol Air Camper
and Pietenpol Sky Scout to be
real honest-to-goodness airplanes, built simply and
inexpensively by
honest-to-goodness people.

Who was Pietenpol?

Bernard H. Pietenpol was a self-taught mechanic
and ''tinkerer'' who lived 'most all his life in tiny
Cherry Grove, a crossroads in southeastern
Minnesota. (You'll sometimes see Spring Valley
given as Pietenpol's address -- that's because
Cherry Grove was too small to have a Post Office so
Pietenpol used nearby Spring Valley's.) He was a
skilled machinist, an electrician and builder of
radios. As a young man of twenty or so he became
very interested in flying and built a number of small
airplanes. When the Model ''A'' Ford was introduced
in the late 1920's, Pietenpol experimented with its
engine in his airframes. He produced the first really
successful two-place airplane to be powered by a
relatively inexpensive and readily available
automobile engine.

Are plans available?

YES! The plans for the two-place ship were first
published in 1929 by Fawcett Publications, Inc. of
Minneapolis, Minnesota in its annual Flying and
Glider Manual and its monthly magazine Modern
Mechanics and Inventions. The design was named
the Air Camper by one of Fawcett's editors This ship
was powered by a Model "A" engine. Sales of the
plans were brisk so the publisher asked Bernard
H. Pietenpol to provide plans for another airplane.
This time a single seat ship to be powered by the
less powerful, older, and much less expensive Ford
Model ''T'' engine. The Sky Scout was born. Plans
were published in the FGM. Reprints of the early
annuals are available from the EAA. The '32 and '33
editions contain the Pietenpols. In 1993 they were
$6.95 each. Order from Order Processing, EAA
Aviation Ctr., Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086; Phone
800-843-3612. Probably no builder should even
think about beginning a Pietenpol without acquiring
and reading these famous articles. You'll even find
a steel tube fuselage in one of the articles. (Wood
remains more popular.)

Soon after the Original Air Camper plans were
published, Bernard Pietenpol improved its design
and issued new plans dated 1933. These are the
plans that 95%+ of the Pietenpol builders use
today, and are still available by postal mail from
the son of the designer, Mr. Don Pietenpol, and from
grandson of the designer, Mr. Andrew Pietenpol.

You can also purchase from Andrew or Don Bernard
Pietenpol's drawings of the Corvair and Continental
65 mount, a longer fuselage, steel fuselage, and a
full size rib drawings, etc.

In 1996 the Pietenpol family (Don and Andrew)
created a family internet web site to continue on
the work of Bernard Pietenpol. This site supports
immediate access to detailed Pietenpol Plan
ordering information. The family run web site is
titled "B.H. Pietenpol and Sons Air Camper Aircraft
L.L.C."

The URL is www.pressenter.com/~apietenp/

In the 1960's Bernard Pietenpol became interested
in using the Chevrolet Corvair engine to power his
''Air Camper''. After much experimentation, he was
satisfied with the combination and said ''The (164
cu. in.) Corvair engine has plenty of power for the
Air Camper, and is the smoothest engine I have
ever flown.'' The last ship he built for himself is
Corvair-powered. It's in the EAA Museum at
Oshkosh, Wisconsin. When you're there, stop by
Pietenpol's hangar at Pioneer Field.

So these three ships, the Ford-powered Air Camper,
the Ford-powered Sky Scout and the
Corvair-powered Air Camper are generally
considered to be the ''purest'' of Pietenpols.
Actually, there have been more than thirty different
engines used to power airplanes of Pietenpol's
design. But most members of our association will
tell you that real Pietenpols fly behind Model ''A''
Fords or Chevy Corvair auto engines.

Are Pietenpol kits available?

No. Pietenpol did advertise and sell kits back in the
1930's. He also built a few ''fly-away'' models.
Today, some members of the BPA make and sell
some components. But Pietenpol's are essentially a
''scratch-built'' airplane .

How much will it cost to build a Pietenpol?

It's difficult to answer. In the late l980's, one BPA
member finished a Ford powered Air Camper for
less than $3500 in out-of-pocket expenses.
However, he is an experienced builder who wanted
to build for the lowest possible cost. Also, being
retired, he had the time to ''scrounge'' materials.

Andrew Pietenpol, the grandson of the late designer
Bernard Pietenpol continues to actively build
Pietenpol Air Campers. Andrew Pietenpol flys a
good sum, and is currently finishing building up an
Air Camper, and is designing the "Air Camper
II" prototype of the future. Andrew lives, thinks,
sleeps, builds and flys from the same "Pietenpol
Field" in Cherry Grove, Minnesota that his
grandfather Bernard did when he was at the peak of
his designing, constructing and flying days.
Andrew is the last original flying Pietenpol.

Andrew indicates that for about $9111 (2008
dollars) and a lot of scrounging plus 1000
hours of free love construction time a pilot can be
in the air.

How much time will it take to build?

Another tough one ... one builder started an Air
Camper in November of 1988 and flew it in June of
'89 . He too is an experienced builder and retired.
At the other extreme, one Air Camper flew in 1990
for the first time; some twenty years after it was
begun. Experienced builders remind the novice that
''airplane building is just a whole bunch of little
jobs.''

Engines?

Many Air Campers are being flown today with the
Ford Model ''A'' engine. Some of these ships are
quite old; some are brand new. Many are currently
under construction. Five million Model ''A'' Fords
were produced and there are plenty of engines that
are available today. A rebuildable engine; block,
crank, cam etc., can be purchased for less than
$100. New pistons, boring, babbitting, align boring,
etc. will set you back another $1500.00 or so.

Start your looking by writing one or both of two
national Model ''A'' Ford clubs: The Model ''A''
Restorers Club, 24800 Michigan Ave., Dearborn MI
48124 and/or Model ''A'' Ford Club of America, 250
S. Cypress St., La Habra, CA 90631-5586. Ask for the
name of a chapter near you, then phone an officer
and attend a meeting.

Corvair enthusiasts also have a national
organization: Corvair Society of America,
PO Box 607, Lemont, IL 60439. Phone:
708-257-6530.

Who knows the most about Corvair Engines used in
the Pietenpol Air Camper?

This is a very easy question for me (Andrew) to
answer: My good friend William Wynne. You can
contact William at www.FlyCorvair.com. Tell him
Andrew Pietenpol sent you!

What about other engines?

There have been over thirty different kinds of
engines used to power Piets.

Where do I obtain The 3 Piece Wing plans?

From this web site from The Pietenpol Family (Don
Pietenpol and Andrew Pietenpol) who continue to
run the late Bernard Pietenpol's Aircraft company:
B.H. Pietenpol And Sons Air Camper Aircraft L.L.C.
The URL is www.pressenter.com/~apietenp/

How about Aluminum ''BH Pietenpol Aircraft'' name
plates to install on my Piet's panel or my desk at
the office?

Contact Brian Amato, 3871 Whispering Oaks Dr.,
Traverse City, MI 49684. $7.50
each.

Registration Numbers?

DOT's advisory, ''Airworthiness Certification of
Amateur-built Aircraft'' permits use of ''NX'' on
Piets, ''Experimental'' label not required. Many use
BH Pietenpol's number NX899 followed by
builder/owner's initials. Nice tribute to Pietenpol.

Are Model ''A'' Ford engines still available?

Yes, Henry made five million of them and there are
plenty still around.

Is my next door neighbor building a Piet?

The BPA publishes its' roster about twice a year.
$6.00 per copy from the BPA.

Steel fuselage?

Yes, it's detailed in EAA's reprint of 1932 Flying and
Glider Manual. Not nearly as popular as the wood
version. The plans are available through (Product
3) the Supplemental plans available for sale
through this website.

Shouldn't I redesign the _______?

WHY? Why would you want to? It's been working
just fine the way it is for the past seven decades.
People have been trying to "improve" the Air
Camper and Sky Scout for seventy years. And the
ones who build a second Piet always build it closer
to the original plans than their first! There is a
lesson here.

Where can I get a BPA patch for my cap, jacket,
etc?

From ''Pete'' Peterson, 74 Doe Court, Terre Haute,
IN 47802-4816. 4" diameter,
multicolored, $4.00 each or two for $7.00.

Who makes components?

Gary Price (25 Taft Rd., Portsmouth, NH
03801-5732), for one. Send him $6.00
(refunded w/1st $25 order) for info. on wire wheels,
fuel tanks, etc. .

Charlie Rubeck (RR 3, Box 545, Spencer, IN 47460;
812-829-2069) makes wing
ribs. Also, see Good luck! column in recent
newsletters.

Am I building a Pietenpol?

If the plans you are building from were signed by
Bernard H. Pietenpol, it is. If Bernard or the
Pietenpol Family Andrew or Don Pietenpol supplied
you with the Air Camper plans then it is.

If I'm not building a Pietenpol, am I welcome in the
BPA?

Yes, we encourage you to do so!

Can you tell me the minimum length table required
to lay out the fuselage
(long version)?

168 inches or 14 foot work bench.

We want you to know (this is very
important) please read!!!!!!!

The Pietenpol designs have been popular and
successful for over seven decades. Like most of the
best homebuilt designs, Pietenpols have been
copied and modified by some builders . That's a
legitimate activity. After all, most are members of
the Experimental Aircraft Association. But we think
it is unfortunate that the builders who change the
design persist in calling their creations Pietenpols.

When looking at airplanes, remember the old adage
''Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery.''
Remember too, Pietenpol plans are labeled
''Designed by B. H. Pietenpol'' . If you want to build
an Original Pietenpol, you need to build from
Original Plans. The Pietenpol Family and the BPA
organization suggest you build from authentic
Pietenpol plans. Bernard's Son Don Pietenpol age 79
or Grandson Andrew Pietenpol age 48 sell a
complete set of Bernards Original Air Camper, or
Sky Scout plans by exchanging a personal check or
by Credit card through this website. Once processed
you will recieve your plans via the (Unitied States
Postal Service-snail mail). (Shipping is free)

(Recap)
Bernard's Grandson Andrew Pietenpol sells the
exact complete set of Bernard Pietenpol Air
Camper, or Sky Scout plans by exchanging several
forms of plastic credit cards via the B.H. Pietenpol
And Sons Air Camper Aircraft Family Internet
Web Site.

The URL is www.pressenter.com/~apietenp/

And there is more:

The Pietenpol Family and the BPA want you to know
as prospective Pietenpol builders that on occasion
we find builders believing they were using authentic
plans, but have actually purchased the plans of
others and started to build from them before
discovering they weren't building a Pietenpol.

It is not our intent to denigrate the designs of
others, nor to convince a builder to build one design
rather than another. But, as members of a ''type''
club we are sometimes asked by builders for advice
or help with their ''Pietenpol'' projects, only to
discover the builder is not working on a ''Piet'' at
all.

The Pietenpol Family (Don Pietenpol and Andrew
Pietenpol) who continue to run the late Bernard
Pietenpol's Aircraft company: B.H. Pietenpol And
Sons Air Camper Aircraft L.L.C. would ask that you
join the BPA organization "Buckeye Pietenpol
Association". Why? (Read On)!!

The Buckeye Pietenpol Association Newsletter is a
quarterly clearing house for Pietenpol news,
building tips, Pietenpol-related events, etc.
Association dues (includes subscription) for U.S.
residents are $10.00/year. For residents of
Canada or Mexico; $12.00/year. For all others;
$15.00/year. Payments accepted in U.S. funds only.
Our address is 6364 Franks Road, Byrnes Mill, MO
63051-1103.

Your BPA exists to promote Pietenpol airplanes, and
acknowledge Bernard H. Pietenpol's contribution to
the world of amateur-built aircraft. The association
was formed in 1981 by thirteen Pietenpol nthusiasts
from Ohio, the Buckeye state. It's grown to be the
preeminent voice of the Pietenpol movement with
members in many countries.

The BPA is a loosely knit group with no officers or
regular meetings; watch the newsletter for
invitations to events.

Their newsletter is published quarterly.
Contributions in the form of articles, photos, letters,
etc. are always welcome. Your subscription will
start with the earliest issue in stock or the next
issue to be published (depending on how many
recent back issues we have on the shelf) and
expires as of the date displayed on your mailing
label.

The ACE to The Air Camper (Brief History)

In 1928, Mr. Pietenpol built and flew an airplane of
his own design. The airplane was a
single place open cockpit monoplane 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.

Several design modifications followed during the
next five years; however, the basic design
remained unchanged. During the process of
modifications, the airplane became a two place with
space for a passenger. The split axle landing gear
with air wheels improved take-off and landing
characteristics. The Ford A engine became the
standard power plant turning a 78" x 42" propeller.
The final design and drawings for the Air
Camper were completed in 1934. No further
changes have been made to the original
drawings.

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.

When Chevrolet introduced the Corvair automobile
in 1960, it was powered with a flat six cylinder air
cooled engine. It seemed a good candidate for a low
cost, reliable engine to replace the Ford A engine.
Mr. Pietenpol built two more airplanes, one in 1960
and another in 1964, both powered with Corvair
engines. The basic airplane design remained
unchanged. The fuselage was lengthened to
compensate for the lighter engine, the pilot and
passenger leg room increased, and brakes and a
tail wheel were installed. An additional eight gallon
fuel tank was installed in the nose. A radio,
generator and battery were also incorporated into
the design. The Corvair engine was lighter and more
powerful than the Ford A. With the Corvair engine,
the Air Camper performance improved,
the ride was more quiet, smooth, and fuel efficient.

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, The Pietenpol Family 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.

Bernard H. Pietenpol 1901-1984

Born in Spring Valley (airfield in Cherry Grove),
Minnesota, Mr. Pietenpol was considered
Minnesota's premiere aircraft homebuilder. He
learned to fly in the 1920's constructing his first
homebuilt airplane in 1923 with a Ford Model T
engine (Sky Scout). In April of 1929, he brought a
Model A engined two-seat airplane (Air Camper) to
Minneapolis, Minnesota to show the editor of Modern
Mechanics magazine that an auto engined airplane
could indeed fly. The plane's plans were published
in the magazine and it became a favorite homebuilt
airplane, which continues to this day. Mr. Pietenpol
is considered the "Father Of Homebuilt Aircraft".

Bernard was a self-taught engineer, who designed
his own airfoils and made his own stress analysis.
He taught in the CPT before World War II. He
returned to the aircraft business and continued
building airplanes, selling plans, experimenting with
Corvair powered flight, and helping other
homebuilders with their projects. His original
hangar and one of his last built planes is now on
display on EAA grounds at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. His
grandson Andrew Pietenpol fly's Mr. Pietenpol's last
built Corvair powered plane, and continues building
Air Campers and selling plans with Mr. Pietenpol's
son Donald Pietenpol.

More Information from the Buckeye Pietenpol
Association

Do you want to learn more? If you do, and want to
visit a respectable site, please see the Buckeye
Pietenpol Association Web site supported by Grant
MacLaren. Grant has been doing a great job
educating and informing Pietenpol builders through
his Web Site.
Thanks Grant!!! We Love your work!

Original Pietenpol Air Camper Specifications: (Two
seat Airplane)

Wing Span 28' 2"ft.
Wing Chord 5 ft
Wing Surface 140 sq ft
Length 17 ft. 8 in.
Height Overall 6 ft. 6 in.
Tread 53 in.
Empty Weight 625 lb.
Engine Ford A, 65-85 Cont.,Subaru,Jabaru, other
Useful Load 456 lb.(Psngr,Gas,Water Baggage)
Climb Light Load over 500ft. first min.
Climb Full Load over 200 ft. first min.
Take-Off Speed 60-75 mph
High Speed 90 mph
Landing Speed 35 mph
Fuel Capacity 10-18 gal.
Take-off Run 150 ft.
Landing Run 250 ft.
Weight of Wing, Complete 95 lbs
Weight of Body, Complete 130 lbs
Weight of Motor with Magneto,
Complete 244 lbs Weight of Radiator 21 lbs
Weight of Propeller 21 lbs
Total Weight of Airplane with Water 625 lbs
Gross Load 1080 lbs
Load per Square Foot 7.7 lbs

FUSELAGE: The longerons are made of 1-inch by
1-inch Sitka spruce. All struts and braces are milled
from 1 inch by 3/4-inch Sitka spruce. All wooden
pieces are glued together and held in place with
rectangular wood gussets cut from 1/8 inch aircraft
grade plywood glued down with aircraft glue, and
held in place by small aircraft brads while the glue
is setting. The forward half of the fuselage is
covered on both sides with �-inch aircraft plywood.
The plywood only extends from the firewall to back
of the rear seat. Once the sides are assembled, they
are up righted on a workbench and joined together
with struts and braces cut to provide tapering from
the rear seat to the tail where the two sides will
join. Quarter-inch aircraft plywood is used for the
floor of the cockpit, and firewall.

TURTLE DECK: A turtle deck is created aft of the rear
cockpit seat to facilitate crowning atop rear
fuselage. This is accomplished by seven 1-inch x
�-inch Sitka spruce stringers set on edge to create
what Bernard Pietenpol called a "streamlined
appearance". His last two Air Campers that Bernard
Pietenpol incorporated a 9 stringer turtle deck.

WING: The wing is a one-piece wing without any
dihedral. The wing spans 28 feet 2 inches, giving it
140 square feet. Also plans are available for a
three-piece wing of the same length. Building a
three-piece wing is recommended when building
space is of value. The three-piece wing requires the
additional building of a few extra wooden pieces,
and metal fittings. The wing is built up with 28 ribs.
The ribs are easily built in a homemade jig (no
steaming required). Each rib is built out of �-inch
by � -inch cap strip. This size cap strip is also used
as rib struts, which hold the top rib cap strip to the
bottom cap strip. All ribs are held together by
1/16-inch aircraft plywood gussets 1-inch by
�-inch. The ribs are hung on two 28-foot long Sitka
spruce spars of identical size (4 �-inch. x 1-inch x
28 foot). Each spar can be made of two 15-foot
spars spliced together (very common). If you are
building a three-piece wing, each spar is then made
up of three smaller length spars, with no splicing
required. Leading and trailing edges are made of
Sitka spruce and are added.

TAIL FEATHERS: The tail group (rudder, vertical and
horizontal stabilizers) is built just like the fuselage
and wings with Sitka spruce spars, wide cap strips,
and plywood, gussets.

COVERING: The choice is yours! When Mr. Pietenpol
built his airships in the 1920's and 30's, Ceconite
wasn't invented. Grade A aero cotton was used.
Today Ceconite works well. Newer technologies
exist that also work very well (Stits process). The
wing, fuselage, and tail feathers are covered.
Interior of fuselage is finished with three coats of
spar aero/marine varnish, sanding between coats.

ENGINE: Over time, Mr. Pietenpol built Air Camper's
with the Ford Model A engine, and a variety of
lightweight aircraft engines; with appearances from
Continental (A-65), Lycoming, Franklin, and yes,
even the flat six boxer type Corvair auto engine
(110hp).

FUSELAGE FITTINGS: The rudder is controlled by
simple U-foot pedals attached to the cross
members. The control cables are simply fastened to
the control stick. All wing and tail feather fittings,
and the landing gear are built of 4130 aircraft steel.

CHANGES OVER THE YEARS: Of course there have
been changes over the past 65+ years, but mainly
to the powerplant. When Bernard Pietenpol used
lightweight aircraft engines, or the Corvair engine,
he added 6 inches of length to the fuselage. These,
and all changes are reflected in the Air Camper
plans. Plan on spending 600+ hours of wonderful
fun and rewarding time building your Pietenpol Air
Camper or Sky Scout!

BUILDING: Building an Air Camper requires basic
woodworking skills and tools. Builders also need to
fabricate some metal fittings to attach the wooden
parts together. Some welding is required. The plans
for the Pietenpol Air Camper were originally
published in a four part serial in the 1932 "Flying
and Glider" Manual.

The Pietenpol Air Camper is built 90 percent from
wood, glue, nails, cloth, and paint. The other 10
percent is cut from simple flat and round steel
(4130). Very little welding is involved. If you cannot
weld then find someone who can! For less than a
couple of hundred dollars you can have all your
welding done. (MIG, TIG, OXY-A, and even brazing
all are acceptable). Before I learned how to weld
well (Andrew Pietenpol) I built up a jig, pre-cut the
steel, and arranged the metal in the jig before
taking it to the welder. I found this process uses
less of the welder's time! You can in three hours
weld all of the required parts together. The photos
on this page are original photo's my grandfather
Bernard Pietenpol took in 1932 to be published in
the Flyer and Glider Manual (Year 1932). It is
important to me to show you the real thing! I want
you to truly understand the simplicity in this
project. And that you "YOURSELF" can really do this!
My grandfather Bernard Pietenpol with only an
eighth grade education not only designed this
airship, but built the airship with very limited tools -
at a time when little or no electricity and power
tools were available. He used a hacksaw! Then to
top it off he had to teach himself how to fly this
bird! Bottom line he got it 100% right!

The original plans include an optional steel tube
fuselage. This option saves about 30 pounds, which
is very important for a very light aircraft like a
Pietenpol. However, the plans for the steel tube
version are significantly more difficult and less
complete than the wood version, and most people
still build the all wooden version of the airframe.

The Air Camper has some interesting design
features. Because of the downward thrust of the
propeller, (the engine is angled downward 5
degrees) the plane has a short/slow take off run
and landings are light on wheels. The beauty of the
Air Camper design is that except for engine
changes, more than 60 different engines have been
adapted for use on the airplane, the basic plans
behind the firewall do not need to change.

Original 1928 Pietenpol Sky Scout Specifications:
(Single seat Airplane)

Cruise Speed 80 mph
Landing Speed 35 mph
Take-off Run 150 ft.
Landing Run 250 ft.
Climb Light Load over 500ft. first min.
Climb Full Load over 200ft. first min.
Wing Span 27 ft. 3 in.
Wing Chord 5 ft. Length 16 ft. 3in.
Weight 610lbs.
Useful load: 267lbs. (Person plus gasoline)

The Pietenpol Sky Scout is a little less in length than
it's bigger brother the Pietenpol Air Camper. It is a
single-place airplane designed in the 1920s by
Bernard Pietenpol. The Pietenpol Sky Scout is very
like the Pietenpol Air Camper but with a single seat
for the pilot and a unique dampening landing gear.
The Pietenpol Sky Scout uses many of the same Air
Camper parts.

The Pietenpol Sky Scout was designed and intended
for easy inexpensive home construction and to be
built from readily-available materials. Wood, fabric,
a used Ford Model T or Model A engine was needed.
Fewer metal parts and even less minimal welding is
required than that of the Pietenpol Air Camper.

Fewer Pietenpol Sky Scouts were built in the 1920's
- 40's as it was overshadowed by the two-place
Pietenpol Air Camper. The same still holds true
today. Bernard Pietenpol designs remain popular
today! The Pietenpol Sky Scout continues to be a
successful design for the same reasons
homebuilders were so fascinated by the design over
80 years ago.

The Pietenpol Sky Scout still has graceful styling,
still has those predictable easy flying qualities, still
easy construction, and finally still an inexpensive
way to fly! (Extremely rugged) The Pietenpol Sky
Scout today is the ultimate one man Bush Plane!!!
Good / Great / The Best for Barnstorming!

The FLYING AND GLIDER MANUAL - Helped Kick Start
It All!

In 1932 the Editor of FLYING AND GLIDER MANUAL
did not believe an automobile engine could power
an airplane. No one did at the time. The Editor had
heard rumors of a guy in southeast Minnesota
running an auto engine conversion in one of his
home designed homemade airplanes. An automobile
engine had never powered a factory built airplane
never mind a homebuilt plane to date.

So intrigued was the Editor of FLYING AND GLIDER
MANUAL he persistently kept asking around the
airplane circle until he found out the name of this
guy. His name turned out to be Bernard Pietenpol.
The Editor made contact with Bernard Pietenpol via
mail and challenged Bernard to respond and name a
time and place to "PROVE IT"!

Bernard Pietenpol easily lifted 77W (the third Air
Camper he built) along with a thermos of hot coffee
into the air from his Cherry Grove Pietenpol Field
(1400' grass airstrip) heading due north 80 miles
(as the bird flies) to Holman Field in St. Paul,
Minnesota in the spring of 1932. The Editor met
Bernard Pietenpol and his black and orange Air
Camper outside the F.B.O. They exchanged very few
words - mostly grunts. The Editor climbed in into
the front seat and together flew due east 11.67
miles to the St. Croix River that divides Wisconsin
from Minnesota. They landed on a small lumpy
sandy grass airstrip on the east bank of the St.
Croix River avoiding the 30 sheep and new born
lambs as they touched down and rolled to a stop.
The sheep maintained the airstrip by nibbled the
grass down to less than one inch. For two hours
they circled the Model "A" powered Air Camper
walking, talking and sharing a thermos of almost
warm coffee that Bernard had brought along. No
more grunting at each other. A new friendship was
made!

The Editor of FLYING AND GLIDER MANUAL was so
impressed that he asked Bernard Pietenpol to draw
up a set of Air Camper blueprints and send them to
him. Once the Editor received Bernard's Air Camper
blueprints he published them in the next FLYING
AND GLIDER MANUAL.

Above at the top of this webpage (First small photo
from left) is a photo of the original FLYING AND
GLIDER MANUAL from 1932 that introduced the
general public to Bernard Pietenpol and his Model
"A" auto engine powered Air Camper!

Over the next few years Bernard wrote many
articles on his airplanes and engine conversions.
Bernard was also asked to write a series of Do It
Yourself (DIY) articles. These multipage articles
detailed best practices to follow when building
homebuilt wings, fuselages, and tail feathers. Also
covered topics included covering, painting,
workshop layout, and flying.

Bernard ran hundreds of ad's communicating to the
public about availability of Air Camper and Sky
Scoutairplane parts, assemblies, full kits, partial
kits, and FLY-AWAY aircraft that could be purchased
from B.H. Pietenpol Inc. Spring Valley, MN in the
rear of the FLYING AND GLIDER MANUAL. Bernard
also placed many ads in several other popular
airplane publications through the years.

Bernard Pietenpol gave his only copy to his
grandson Andrew Pietenpol. This copy currently is
safely tucked away in a safety deposit box to
protect Bernard Pietenpol's 76+ year old original
print that was presented to him by the Editor
FLYING AND GLIDER MANUAL in 1932 as a thank you!

Special Note: For an eight year period in the late
1990's early 2000's Andrew Pietenpol the grandson
of Bernard Pietenpol owned and lived on the above
described lumpy St. Croix River airstrip (less sheep
and lamb's). Andrew Pietenpol flew the last Air
Camper Bernard Pietenpol ever built (NX899H) from
this St. Croix airstrip. Today Andrew Pietenpol and
Donald Pietenpol have renovated the Bernard
Pietenpol Cherry Grove Pietenpol Field & Workshop.
Andrew Pietenpol continues following in the foot
path of his grandfather Bernard Pietenpol building
and flying Air Campers on the same 1400' airstrip.
It took over 76 years for the Pietenpol Family to
come full circle with Andrew Pietenpol proudly
paralleling the life of his admired grandfather
BERNARD PIETENPOL.

(Thoughts from Bernard Pietenpol's grandson
Andrew Pietenpol regarding his grandfather's
philosophy)
His philosophy was he wanted to design an airplane
out of common parts that a common man could
afford and build. You made good with what you had,
and if you didn't have it, you made it and that's
essentially what he did with his airplanes.

Thoughts from Donald Pietenpol Bernard Pietenpol's
Son, and Andrew Pietenpol Bernard Pietenpol's
Grandson!

Thoughts from Andrew Pietenpol
A Pietenpol Air Camper is a plane my grandfather
Bernard H. Pietenpol designed. It is more of a
memory than it is a plane for me. Bernard passed
away when I was in college in 1984. Bernard gave a
lot of people enjoyment! He gave a lot of rides, and
people got to experience their first airplane ride via
him. He would many times after church on Sundays
give free rides. People from all over the community
would show up at his airstrip in Cherry Grove
Minnesota. Bernard would load people in and out of
his Air Camper flying them up - around - and then
down. He did this over and over for 60 years. Some
of those people were inspired to become pilots and
build their own plane. I'm lucky to have had the
opportunity to learn from my father and
grandfather. Life is a full circle and it's just coming
back around.

Thoughts from Donald Pietenpol
I grew up looking out our window looking into the
yard and seeing an airplane my dad had built. I was
around airplanes since I was 3 years old and
thinking nothing of it.

Thoughts from Andrew Pietenpol
He'd leave a plane out in the front in case someone
had to go to the hospital.

Thoughtsfrom Donald Pietenpol
If somebody got sick in Cherry Grove and there's 12
miles of snow, my dad would go in the shop and
pour hot oil on the engine, hot Prestone in the
radiator, start the engine and fly them to the
doctor.

Thoughts from Andrew Pietenpol
I can't tell you how many times a person has come
up to me in Fillmore County and said I got my first
ride in a plane with your grandfather and it was just
wonderful!

Thoughts from Donald Pietenpol
I've asked my father sometimes in years past, how
did you know how to do this? How did you know how
to build an airplane? And his answer to me was
always the same. I always knew how.

Thoughts from Andrew Pietenpol
Bernard had to teach himself to fly. No one could
teach him.

Thoughts from Donald Pietenpol
He didn't study. He didn't go to school for it. He
didn't buy books for it. He just sat down with a piece
of paper. All of these things are hand done, hand
built. All put together and they all fit. It's just one of
those phenomenal things that happen, I guess.

Thoughts from Andrew Pietenpol
I think he just got out there and made the mistakes
and if he messed something up he fixed it and
eventually he figured it out.

Thoughts from Donald Pietenpol
My dad said; "I found out that if I wanted to make
the nose of the airplane to go down I could stick
both hands and arms out and the nose would go
over. If I wanted to climb I found out I could take
my helmet off and put it over the over the trailing
edge of the airplane and the airplane would climb".
My dad said; "I didn't know how to fly, but my
airplanes did".

Back in the 1930's factory built aircraft were very
expensive and people had no money.

Owning and flying your own airplane was totally
beyond anyone's dream back in the thirties. Then
came out an airplane that somebody could build
themselves with parts obtained just my going down
to the hardware store.

That's just what we needed back in the depression
years.

And he actually took a piece of black walnut out of a
log and whittled a propeller out of it.

Thoughts from Donald Pietenpol
Back then (1932) the editor of Modern Mechanics
magazine made a statement that an airplane
couldn't fly with an automobile engine. So my dad
wrote him a letter. And he says automobile engines
do fly, in fact I have two of them flying right now.
When the editor wrote back he says O.K., prove it.
Fly em up here, I want to see em. So they flew two
airplanes up there and the editor of Popular
Mechanics was so impressed he said draw the plans
- I'll publish it. So that started the whole series in
Modern Mechanics magazine. That was the
beginning of it. And the plans were seven dollars
and fifty cents. I know before WWII that he had
sent out over six thousand sets of plans.

Thoughts from Andrew Pietenpol
During WWII he Bernard Pietenpol ended up in the
civilian pilot training program. With his knowledge
of airplanes, he taught young pilots basic flight
lessons and how to fix planes.

Thoughts from Donald Pietenpol
So he spent his years, the war years down there.
Patriotism was a little different then. Everybody
wanted a job that did something to shorten the war,
to do a good job for the country. That was part of
the backbone of the people in those days. It runs in
the genes, I'm certain it does! My dad flew, my
brother flew in WWII, I fly, my son flies. (Three
generations of Flying Pietenpol pilots - sort of cool!)

Thoughts from Andrew Pietenpol
As a kid I grew up here on Pietenpol Field spending
lots of time with my grandfather Bernard Pietenpol.
Together we would build airplane parts for my
future Air Camper. Mostly Air Camper ribs. Today I
have fond memories - and also a human body aging
faster it should. Since 2004 I have been working
hard on a dream I have had since 4 years of age.
From age 4 on I have communicated to everyone
that would listen to me including resident pocket
gophers, mice, snakes, and toads that I would
return to my grandfather's field and honor my
grandfather Bernard Pietenpol and father Donald
Pietenpol buy carrying on what was started over 90
years ago. I have built on "Pietenpol Field" an
airplane hangar, and a house that is of the same
exact size and footprint as the original hangar and
house. Happily I can say today I use "Pietenpol
Field" just like Bernard and Don did building Air
Campers, flying planes, and best of do what I do
best "putz around" (I am a putzer first and
foremost on all things mechanical, electrical, or
computer powered). Cutting lots of airstrip grass,
trapping those pesky pocket gophers is also a carry
over experience that is hard work, but worth all
those hours of loving labor.

Thoughts from Andrew Pietenpol
The fly in at Brodhead happens once a year. It is a
bunch of Pietenpol enthusiasts! It's a great
opportunity for everybody to compare notes as to
how they built their airplane. Every Pietenpol here
is different. Everybody puts his or her own
signature on the airplane when they build it. It's a
plans built airplane.

And we have a saying here at Brodhead. That the
people come here for the first time to see the
airplanes, and they come back because of the
people. It's a pretty good size gathering.
You don't see these people walking around with a
glum look on their face. They got something that
really gets their attention. They come from all over
the country here to find out how to build a
Pietenpol.

Awards Given Bernard Pietenpol

1972 > Raspet Memorial Award for - Outstanding
contribution to the advancement of light aircraft
design

1975 > Honored for being considered one of the -
Greats of Aviation (at Oshkosh, WI. ceremony)

1975 > Awarded EAA trophy for - Best auto engine
powered aircraft (at Oshkosh, WI. ceremony)

1978 > The aviation community honored Bernard
Pietenpol recognizing 50 years of designing and
flying

1982 > Spring Valley MN. honored Bernard Pietenpol
in the 4th of July parade as - Citizen of the year

1990 > Inducted into Minnesota Aviation Hall of
Fame for - Enhancing the aviation climate in
Minnesota.

2007 > Documentary film "Finding Flight" by Jesse
Roesler and Jen Larson - During the Great
Depression, Bernard H. Pietenpol, with no more than
an eighth-grade education, designed a "common
man's airplane" built with hardware store parts.
Today his son and grandson carry on his legacy,
and his simple design enjoys a popular following
among people of all ages who share his dream of
flight. Award Winning -
Unbelievable Great Film!!!

Photos Start Here!!!!

Special Note:
The above photo is from the 1932 FLYING AND
GLIDER MANUAL. Sorry it is a little yellow. I scanned
it into my computer from the original copy my
grandfather Bernard Pietenpol gave to me when I
was 12 years old in 1973. What you see is what you
will be building. For more photos and facts please
click on the PHOTO's link at the top of this page!
Thank you for your interest! Sincerely Andrew
Pietenpol