Bernard Pietenpol believed anyone with basic woodworking tools and a dream should be able to build their own airplane. In 1928, he proved it by flying his prototype Air Camper—a lightweight, parasol-wing aircraft built from spruce, plywood, and ingenuity. He published detailed plans in Flying and Glider magazine in 1932, contributing towards a global movement of homebuilders.
Designed for simplicity and affordability, the Air Camper could be built in a modest workshop. Builders shaped wooden parts by hand, made metal fittings, and completed occasional welding. The aircraft was originally flown with an Ace four-cylinder engine, but the reliable and widely available Ford Model A automobile engine quickly became the standard. In the 1960s, Pietenpol endorsed the Chevrolet Corvair engine for its smooth operation and lighter weight. Today, many use common light aircraft engines like the Continental A65 or C85.
In Canada, Air Campers gained popularity in the 1930s. Builders in Edmonton and Calgary constructed several examples. One of the first in Western Canada was built by T. P. “Tommy” Fox in Vancouver. Fox later moved to Edmonton, worked for No. 2 Air Observer School during the Second World War, and went on to found Associated Airways, a major postwar aviation company in Alberta.
Despite being a homebuilt design from nearly a century ago, the Pietenpol Aircraft Company reintroduced the Air Camper kit in 2015, making it easier than ever to assemble this classic aircraft. Though every Air Camper is slightly different—shaped by its builder’s choices—the aircraft has become an enduring symbol of grassroots aviation.
The Alberta Aviation Museum’s Air Camper was completed by Darren Scarlett of Calgary, who took on the project after the original builder passed away. Scarlett flew the aircraft for the first time in 2023 but found the experience more nerve-wracking than expected. He generously donated the aircraft to the museum, preserving it as a tribute to the spirit of grassroots aviation and the builders who bring these classic aircraft to life.