Pietenpol Air Camper
Pietenpol Aircraft · USA · first flew 1928 · light aircraft
The Pietenpol Air Camper is a vintage parasol-wing homebuilt design dating from 1928, built from wood, fabric, and wire. It remains popular with builders seeking a nostalgic open-cockpit flying experience using modern or period engines.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 5.64 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- parasol high-wing configuration with wing mounted on cabane struts above open cockpit
- wire-braced wooden and fabric construction with vintage biplane-era aesthetics
- open tandem cockpits with no enclosure
The parasol wing mounted on struts above an open tandem cockpit, wire bracing, and wholly vintage appearance are unmistakable.
Specifications
- The Pietenpol Air Camper has a length of 5.64 m (19 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.84 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 145 km/h (90 mph).
- Typical crew: 1-2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Bernard Pietenpol of Spring Valley, Minnesota designed the Air Camper in the late 1920s and published the plans in magazines so others could build it. Originally powered by Ford Model A car engines, modern examples typically use Continental or Corvair engines. The design has been continuously built by homebuilders for nearly a century.
Variants
The Sky Scout is a single-seat Pietenpol design; variations in engine choice, cockpit enclosure, and fabric systems are builder-driven rather than factory variants.
Where you'll see it
Pietenpol Air Campers are built and flown in the UK on LAA permits and are a familiar sight at vintage fly-ins such as those held by the Vintage Aircraft Club.
Related aircraft
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