Pietenpol

Replica 1933 Pietenpol Air Camper
built by John Norman

In the late 1970's and early 1980's, John found himself living on Lopez Island once more.
He decided since he could not afford to buy an airplane ... he would build one!
Then he could come and go as he chose
without being dependant on the Washington State Ferry system.

John purchased a set of plans to build a replica 1933 Pietenpol Air Camper and the rest, as they say,
is history...

Newspaper Article published in the
Island Record on 10 December 1982

Newspaper Article published in the
Island Record in 1983

Newspaper Article published in the
Anacortes American in June 1984

Photograph taken the day of the Maiden Flight
of the Pietenpol Air Camper built by John Norman

Newspaper Article published in the
Anacortes American on 22 August 1984

After completing the construction of this Pietenpol Air Camper, John and some of his friends flew
the little airplane all around Skagit, San Juan and Whatcom counties for almost one year.
After several exciting adventures in the little open cockpit aircraft, John decided to sell it.

A young man from New York purchased the airplane.
John and his family disassembled the airplane and drove across the United States to deliver the
airplane to the new owner at Brodhead, Wisconsin in July 1985 during
the 10th Annual Pietenpol Fly-in held at Brodhead.

When the fly-in came to an end, John and his family headed north and west to Washington,
and Karl (the new owner) flew the Pietenpol north and east to his home in New York.

Karl and the Pietenpol became regulars at Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome
where he flew the little plane almost every weekend for a number of years
before selling the little bird to a friend.

PIETENPOL AIR CAMPER • $13,800 • PRICE REDUCED • Model "A" Ford powered Pietenpol
Air Camper. This 1984 airplane is in the colors light blue and silver and in the configuration of
the first Air Camper built in 1929. This authentic example is covered in cotton with original
instruments, tailskid, woven cables and Curtiss Jenny wheels. For over a decade it had flown in
the airshows at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Covered in cotton in 1990. A newly overhauled
model A engine with only 63.3 hours is installed. Total time on airframe is 344 hours. Airplane
located in upstate NY. • Contact Karl Erickson, Friend of Owner - located Rockport, ME USA •
Telephone: 207-594-8550 • Posted December 31, 2010 •

~ Pietenpol Update ~

On New Year's Day 2011, John found this ad and these pictures on Barnstormers.com:

This was a fun little 'stroll down Memory Lane'! According to Karl,
"All of the structure is yours with the exception of the landing gear and the details [instruments,
turnbuckles, tail-skid, etc.] Being the purist, the field where its at never liked tail-skids on their
manicured grass ..."
Amazing, after all these years and all the 'nay-sayers' who told John he couldn't build a plane!
Yet, here she is! Still flying and now looking for a new owner!