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Too Many P's
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Date: 6-11-2012
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Number of Hours: 8.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: You gotta start somewhere.
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Image 1 sums it up. Yep, that’s pretty much the look I got when I started to mention to my family and friends the idea of building my own airplane. A fair number of my colleagues had built or are in the process of building one and while constructing a model Taylorcraft with my daughter, I realized that even fabricating a balsawood aircraft taught us both a great deal, plus the quality time together was priceless.
So, what plane to build? I wanted a two seater that is fun to fly, don't need to go fast, already fly an Airbus. I came across a used book from the internet: "The 25 most practical homebuilt aircraft" by Peter Bowers copyright 1978. Of the 25, three of four good prospects and a fun book to read. Mmmmm, What's this Aircamper? Seems to fit the bill, a bit old fashion but has a good story behind it. A few upgrades to the original design, and it should do quite nicely. Sold; we’re building a Pietenpol...Cool.
Every homebuilt aircraft has a story. Born in someone’s imagination and built from wood, aluminum, steel and fabric, many homebuilt aircraft are masterpieces of engineering along with being works of art. Each designer imparts a bit of their personality into their creation. Born in 1901 Bernard Pietenpol grew up in the farming community of Cherry Grove, MN. At what some people viewed as the dark ages of aviation-due to the great depression and growing government regulation- Mr. Pietenpol designed a plane for the common man. Dissatisfied with the complexity of a surplus WWI Curtis Jenny and after four unsuccessful attempts at building his own bi-plane, success came in the form of an open cockpit mono wing airplane with a modified Model A engine. Never a man of great means, Bernard used his intelligence and determination to achieve something many said couldn't be done. Although he passed in 1984 his legacy lives on in the many Aircampers still being built today. I only hope that I can build a craft worthy of his genius.
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Are you crazy?
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Which plane to build.
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The Pietenpol Story by Chet Peek
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