Model A Aircraft Kit

[Gene F]

About 7 years ago (could be more, could be less) Hemmings had an article about plans that you could send away for to build a Model-A powered aircraft. Does anyone know the Volume, and Edition (i.e., year and month) of this article?

The A engine mounts in there backwards, and the prop attaches to the end of the crankshaft.

 

[MrBruce]

If you search the internet for "Pietenpol Air Camper" you will come up with a lot and maybe who has the plans for building one. I know a friend just north of Charlotte that has the plane done, just needs to be covered. He is in poor health and will never finish it so it will probably be forsale

 

[s.e.charles]

i read the oil pan was finned to allow cooling

 

[40 Deluxe]

i read the oil pan was finned to allow cooling[/QUOTE


Well, that may have been an option for the wealthy pilots of the day, but Bernard Pietenpol designed this plane to be a homebuilt for the average guy during the Great Depression. That tall radiator sitting on top of the cowl in front of the pilot surely could handle all the cooling needed.

 

[Gene F]

I wonder how many hours it took him to build the frame.

 

[Gene F]

i read the oil pan was finned to allow cooling[/QUOTE


Well, that may have been an option for the wealthy pilots of the day, but Bernard Pietenpol designed this plane to be a homebuilt for the average guy during the Great Depression. That tall radiator sitting on top of the cowl in front of the pilot surely could handle all the cooling needed.

Yes, that's the one...

 

[drezin]

I built a pietenpol 40 yrs. ago. Sold it recently, To old to get in and out of it. Good flying airplane. Had the model A engine. Had the standard oil pan but I put a high compretion head on it.

 

[woofa.express]

follows story number 4 from 40 Delux

Well, that may have been an option for the wealthy pilots of the day, but Bernard Pietenpol designed this plane to be a homebuilt for the average guy during the Great Depression. That tall radiator sitting on top of the cowl in front of the pilot surely could handle all the cooling needed.[/QUOTE]

and would be good for the pilot on a cold day

 

[GPierce]

Got one in the hangar next to me except they put a Corvair engine in it. Really nice airplane.

 

[Patrick L.]

A friend built one about 30 yrs or so ago and I helped him install a Continental C series engine. It took him several years to build it.

I wouldn't strap my fanny in one with the Model A engine.

 

[joncrane]

Pietenpol airplanes are displayed at the T Museum in Richmond, Ind and also at the A museum at the Gilmore in Hickory Corners, Mi. Either location should have additional information.

 

[kawagumby]

I built a pietenpol 40 yrs. ago. Sold it recently, To old to get in and out of it. Good flying airplane. Had the model A engine. Had the standard oil pan but I put a high compretion head on it.

Good for you! Home-builds are an impressive undertaking, and one with a model A engine, so much more so!

 

[Mister Moose]

I dunno. For what it would cost to get a rebuilt and airworthy Model A engine, buy the kit and build it, why not just spend 20k on a nice used Cessna 150? Better resale, 2 seats, 100kts on a reliable continental engine. Not to mention an enclosed cabin and a windshield you can see through.

 

[kawagumby]

I dunno. For what it would cost to get a rebuilt and airworthy Model A engine, buy the kit and build it, why not just spend 20k on a nice used Cessna 150? Better resale, 2 seats, 100kts on a reliable continental engine. Not to mention an enclosed cabin and a windshield you can see through.

For some it's not about the destination...it's about the journey!

 

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

For the aero guys, I have a dual-plug Funk head off of a Ford Model-B powered Funk Model-B which made a reported 63 horsepower and had a 5 gallon oil capacity. The reason why the oil capacity was so great is because the engine was run in the inverted position where the crankshaft was in the upward location, and the spark plugs were in the lower location of the engine. This was done so the engine could spin a larger diameter propeller.

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[Stingray70]

Interesting airplane but I cannot imagine a worse choice for a Powerplant. Heavy and underpowered. Liquid cooled. I didn't look to see what type of ignition they used. Yikes.

 

[woofa.express]

The Pietenpol.

The commentary on this has been most interesting. I never knew such an aeroplane existed until 18 months ago when my friend sent me a picture of one from Osaka. Oshkosh gary you fool.
I never knew why some aeroplane engines were inverted. I guess I had never thought about it. Thanks for enlightening me Brent in uh 10-uh-c. I believe Kawagumby too is correct in saying it’s the journey that some pilots enjoy and not the destination. Two questioned the choice of Model A engine. I too would prefer to sit behind an engine manufactured by a builder whose name appears on modern aero engines.
And of course many get the pleasure from building their own aeroplane and that's commendable and understandable.

 

[608bill55]

Ford Model A engine is ideal for these airplanes. One just has to rebuild the engine with more clearance for piston/bore and valve stem/guide as these engines are always "pulling" unlike a car. Single aircraft magneto ignition off the crankshaft with high compression head. Attached photo is my Pietenpol Sky Scout at the Oshkosh Model A meet a number of years ago.

 

[1928Mik]

Here's a cool video on one of those Air Campers:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_1jSHa5_3A

 

[nkaminar]

Nice video. I really enjoyed it. The chase plane was nice too.

I guess the question of why anyone would fly an antique airplane with a Model A engine in it is like why would anyone drive an antique Model A when you can just jump into a Toyota and drive anywhere.

A hot Model A engine with insert bearings, cam, big valves, Weber, counterbalanced crank, etc. will put out 80 hp or more. More than enough to power the Pietenpol.