Dataplate Aircraft Records · AD Engine
IN PROGRESS EXPERIMENTAL · AMATEUR-BUILT PLANS-BUILT · SPRUCE & FABRIC

Bernard H. Pietenpol Air Camper

Plans set #8481 · Corvair conversion · 2700 cc · Sensenich wood 72" × 42
Registration NOT YET RESERVED
Build totals
Hours on build384.0 / ~1 400.0 est
A&P credit hrs142.0 (supervised)
Entries96 · 19 signed
Photos612
§ 01 — Phase plan

Progress at a glance

PIETENPOL PLANS, AS ISSUED · UPDATED 2023-02-18
100%
Shop & material sort
48.0 h
100%
Wing rib jig
32.0 h
70%
Wing ribs (40)
96.0 / ~140.0
40%
Wing spars
58.0 / ~150.0
20%
Tail surfaces
28.0 / ~140.0
35%
Fuselage (spruce)
84.0 / ~240.0
0%
Landing gear
0.0 / ~80.0
0%
Engine mount & cowl
0.0 / ~110.0
0%
Fabric & dope
0.0 / ~260.0
25%
Corvair conversion
38.0 / ~180.0
0%
Rigging & first flight prep
0.0 / ~80.0

§ 02 — Build journal

Latest entries

2026-04-17 · FRI · 3.0 h logged

Cut & jigged 8 ribs — set now at 28 of 40

WING RIBS A&P CREDIT · 3.0h PHOTOS · 11
Cut eight ribs from quarter-sawn Sitka spruce stock (Aircraft Spruce lot 26-881, mill certificate on file). Rib-cap and web pieces fit into the jig without trim — jig indexing is running true after last week's recalibration. Glue-up with T-88 epoxy, weighted with sandbags for 24 hours. Ostrander stopped by in the afternoon to witness the glue process and inspect first two ribs for squareness.
PP_0417_jig.jpg
jig loaded
PP_0417_rib.jpg
rib 23 — dry fit
PP_0417_glue.jpg
T-88 weighted
Supervising A&P signoff
C. Ostrander
Ostrander, Charles · A&P 1872104
sha256:1e02 7a44 b381
anchored: OTS 2026-04-17
2026-04-08 · WED · 1.5 h logged

Received spar-grade spruce order from Aircraft Spruce

WING SPARS NO A&P CREDIT · ADMIN
Two 18-ft lengths of Sitka spruce, mill-certified, shipped freight. Inspected grain (≥6 rings per inch on both pieces), checked for runout — both pass the 1-in-15 slope standard from AC 43.13-1B ¶ 1-7. Stored in the shop loft at ambient humidity. This is the third spar-stock order for the project; older pieces are in the rack.
2026-04-02 · THU · 2.5 h logged

Crank rebuild — magnafluxed & in spec

CORVAIR CONVERSION A&P CREDIT · 2.5h PHOTOS · 4
Took the Corvair crankshaft to the local machine shop for magnaflux + journal check. No cracks, all journals within Wynne manual spec. Returned and bagged for assembly. Conversion timeline now running ahead of airframe — will park until fuselage is further along.
Supervising A&P signoff
C. Ostrander
Ostrander, Charles · A&P 1872104
sha256:91bc d221 4f08
anchored: OTS 2026-04-02