Pietenpol Aircamper

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fleet16b
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Pietenpol Aircamper

Post by fleet16b »

Way back in the 70s when I was around 12 yrs old , my AME/Pilot Father decided that I was old enough to take the step from model airplane to real ones.
He was fixing up and recovering a Pietenpol Aircamper for a customer. It was a great experience.
Jump to last summer. A well known vintage aircraft collector in Ontario obtained ownership of a very true to original design Pietenpol Aircamper that
for many years was operated at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in NY State. Not being a Pilot himself, he asked me to do the flying in it.
The Aircamper is by far a very fun light airplane . Very vintage - rudder bar , WW1 instruments, open cockpit, no forward visibilty and powered by a 1929 Ford model A 40 hp engine .
I had sooooo much fun flying it that I decided I needed one.
With that I started reaching out to my contacts and eventually found and purchased suitable project near Nashville Ten.
The aircraft was started by a retired NASA Engineer 2003 and his wood work was first class . Unfortunately he passed away mid project. The wings and empennage were covered up to the first coat of clear applied
Fuselage still has a few things to do but is almost ready for cover. It also has a model A engine that is has been already converted as per the plans
I decided that I did not like the way the fabric tapes were applied so re-did all of them and the wings and tail surfaces are now completed up to silver and are ready for colour coats.
The aircraft will have International orange wings , empennage and wheel discs and the fuselage will be navy blue
I am putting no timeline on the work as I already have a flying vintage aircraft but I estimate 2-3 years and she will be done .
Once complete, I hope to fly it from Hamilton Ontario all the way to Broadhead Wisconsin for the annual Pietenpol Gathering and then over to Oshkosh .
A long and slow journey there and back barnstorming all the while.
It is really a pleasure to get back to doing some restoration work and I am pretty sure that this is the 32nd aircraft I have recovered/ rebuilt .
Sure wish my Dad was still alive to help me as it would have brought us full circle
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...isn't he the best pilot you've ever seen?....Yeah he is ....except when I'm shaving.........
Angusnofangus
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Re: Pietenpol Aircamper

Post by Angusnofangus »

I got a ride in a Piet back in the early 80's. What a blast!! Good luck with yours.
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YYZSaabGuy
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Re: Pietenpol Aircamper

Post by YYZSaabGuy »

That's a nice story, Fleet. Be sure and post pics when you've finished - that should be a great-looking airplane.
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fleet16b
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Re: Pietenpol Aircamper

Post by fleet16b »

Didn't get much done on the Pietenpol over the summer due to flying coming first.
I managed to complete acquiring a complete set of WW 1 instruments and will make a new panel to accommodate them .
Back in Aug , I found a second Pietenpol in a barn near Kitchener. It turned out that it was for sale > cheap.
At the asking price, I figured I could buy it and flip it (still at a cheap price) to someone that normally would not be able to afford a homebuilt project. That is exactly what happened. Its going to a guy that is a long time Pietenpol fan that has always wanted one but had a limited budget. I'm glad he is getting it, make me feel I am giving back to aviation a bit
Next step for mine will be to complete the final things on the fuselage and prep for fabric
Progress is slow but I'm in no hurry
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...isn't he the best pilot you've ever seen?....Yeah he is ....except when I'm shaving.........
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