Posted by Armand on June 23, 2000 at 19:36:07:
In Reply to: But seriously though, Folks posted by Bob-CH on June 23, 2000 at 17:08:29:
Bernard Pietenpol was an aircraft designer who designed a few very intersting planes. People with an attitude didnīt consider them as real planes however. Pietenpolsīplanes were very light, basic built and could be put together by everybody who could tell the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver. The plane was called Air Camper. It wasnīt fast and couldnīt fly very high, but it took you everywhere you wanted and, if there was a small landing strip (only 250 ft required), you might land, get your tent off the plane and stay for the night. Pietenpols planes - originally powered by a Ford A model engine were disgusted by rich arrogant pilots who could afford a Ryan or similar. They first flew in 1929, many of them were sold as kits. Today the plans are still available and the plane can be powered by a Chevrolet (Convair flat six) or Subaru (flat four) engine.
On my way home from Belgium it occured to me there are many parallels between Pietenpolīs planes and the Savage: both very basic, easy to maintain, slow, certainly no toy for arrogant idiots and lots of fun though.