PlaneSpottingWorld welcomes all new members! Please gives your ideas at the Terminal.
Pietenpol Air Camper
| Air Camper | |
|---|---|
| Type | amateur-built airplane |
| Manufacturer | Pietenpol |
| Designed by | Bernie Pietenpol |
| Maiden flight | 1928 |
The Pietenpol Air Camper is a simple homebuilt aircraft designed by Bernard H. Pietenpol.[1][2][3]
The first prototype that became the Air Camper was built and flown by Pietenpol in 1928.[3]
Contents
Design
The Air Camper was designed to be built of spruce and plywood. One of Pietenpol's goal was to create a plane that was affordable and easy to construct for home builders.[3]
Powerplants
The original model was flown using an Ace four cylinder water-cooled engine.[3] The Model A Ford engine alter became the standard powerplant used.[1][3] Other engines have also been used including: Ford Model T, Ford V8, Velie, Kinner, Lycoming, Franklin, and Continental engines.[3]
In the 1960s BH Pietenpol began to favor converted engines from the Chevy Corvair automobiles. The Corvair engine was smoother, stronger, and significantly lighter in weight compared to the Model A. As a result of the lighter weight of the Corvair engines the airframe was lengthened for weight and balance reasons.[citation needed] Over the years over 30 different engines have flown in the Pietenpol Air Camper. Many modern Pietenpol builders prefer Continental A65 or C85 / C90 powerplants.[3]
Construction
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 Aircamper were originally published in a four part serial in the "Flying and Glider" Manual.[3]
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.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
Variants
BH Pietenpol also designed and published plans for a single-seat version of the aircraft named the Sky Scout, which was slightly smaller and was powered by the Ford Model T engine.[4] During the late 1920's and early 1930's, this was less expensive than the Model A used in the Air Camper.[citation needed]
Specifications (Typical Air Camper)
From Plane and Pilot[2] & Pietenpol website[4]
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Capacity: One passenger
- Length: 17 ft 8 in (5.39 m)
- Wingspan: 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
- Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
- Wing area: 135 ft² (12.5 m²)
- Empty weight: 610 lb (277 kg)
- Loaded weight: 995 lb (452 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 1080 lb (490 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Ford Model A engine (adapted for aero use), ()
Performance
- Maximum speed: 86 knots (100 mph, 160 km/h)
- Stall speed: 30 knots (35 mph, 56 km/h)
- Rate of climb: 500 ft/min (152 m/min)
- Wing loading: 7 lb/ft² (36 kg/m²)
See also
Related lists
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bowers, Peter M.: Guide to Homebuilts, 9th Edition, pages 10-12. Tab Books, 1984. ISBN 0-8306-2364-7
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Plane and Pilot: 1978 Aircraft Directory, page 150. Werner & Werner Corp Publishing, 1978. ISBN 0-918312-00-0
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 B.H. Pietenpol And Sons Air Camper Aircraft (2007). B.H.P. And Sons Air Camper Aircraft. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 B.H. Pietenpol And Sons Air Camper Aircraft (2007). Original Pietenpol Air Camper and Sky Scout Aircraft. Retrieved on 2008-02-01.
External links
- Pietenpol family site
- Sky Camper history on AirVenture Museum site
- "The Pietenpol Story" by Chet Peek - Book covering the history of Bernard Pietenpol's Design
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Pietenpol Air Camper". |
