Pietenpol Air Camper - Tom Stinemetze
This "Camper" will be plans-built to the original Bernie Pietenpol design with long fuselage and a Corvair 110 HP engine. Tom has decided to go directly from "ground pounder" status to pilot in four easy steps (none of which he has even tried before):
- Carve a prop.
- Build an airplane
- Convert a Corvair engine to flight status.
- Get a pilot's license. (1-3 currently on hold while I do this part - getting close 6-30-06)
It's HECK on a man's ego when his kids are busy doing things that he can only dream of! See some of the efforts of two of the kids Stinemetze at http://www.Scaled.com Tom's two sons work for Burt Rutan, one on the SpaceShipOne project and one on the maintenance crew for Proteus.
The Piet project got started officially in November, 2004. Here are some photos of current progress. (April 2007) Lots of new photos.
 | Engine - From initial acquisition to present |
| Miscellaneous New photos here 5/12/08 |
| Prop |
| Empennage New photos here 3/12/08 |
| Wing |
| Fuselage |
| Landing Gear New photos here 5/12/08 |
| Verses |
Pietenpol History
~~ 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 hanger 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.