Pietenpol Air Camper

[Trytofly]

Has anyone in this country ever built an 'Air Camper? Or is there something better to build?

[Redeye]

Piets are good cheap fun but a FlyBaby is a lot better for the same money
-The only down side is single seat.

[Morph]

How much and how long do they take to build?

[Redeye]

The cheapest way to do it is to buy someone elses project- there are some half built Piets and Fly babys around Joburg - weedeater bought a piet project for about 30 k and paid about 100k for his Flybaby completed by another builder

Vulture paid 75 k for the FB project but it came with a Zero timed Lycoming- look at about 100 to 120 k to complete a plane- As for the time thats all up to the builder- Rosy built a mustang in about a year from a kit
but i think he has a lot of spare time on his hands- Vulture took about 1,5 years to finish heres but a lot had been done by the previous builder.

[Trytofly]

Thanks for the info guys!
I see from the photo that they are ZS- registered. Does this mean a PPL? Does anyone know of incomplete piets around? I reread the article in the first African Skies about a home build, it does seem alot of work. Is it actually cheaper? I suppose you pay it of as you build it?

[Aerosan]

Hi Try

I have een lookng into the building bit for a while now, and as the gent in African Skies says, it seems to be a virtual imposibility to build a plane yourself. As far as my calculations goes it is definately cheaper to build from plans. The problem is that it taes a LOT of dedication and patience. You will also have to know that there is just as much time spend on sorting he "small" problems aferwards, as that spend on building the project in the first place.

Just my own observation and comments

San

[Trytofly]

Hallo San,

What about something made of metal, chromolly or alu? As far as time and efford is concerned, think of the reword when you grease that machine that you have spent 2 years+ on back onto the runway in one piece.

[Redeye]

Does this mean a PPL

Yes Piets and Flybaby need a PPL

Its still worth it- Vulturs FlyBaby cost 120 K all in- She has a 100mph plane
thats fully aerobatic- easy and cheap to maintain- i dont think you could find a kit plane motor and prop for under double the price.

Check out http://www.bowersflybaby.com/

[Aerosan]

Hi Try

Mst guys are going off at a tagent about building with wood, something that I hve wrked with before, now togo to metal? to m its scary. I have to trust someone else completely
And that why I haven even looked at metal, and real planes ae made of wood

[Aerosan]

I must get a new kyboard!!

[RV4ker (RIP)]

VIY is/was for sale For R160+K. Seems a bit high. Ryan (Sky Raiders) has done ome work on a Piet, but now I hear working on a RV. His project was in market some time ago....

Check Junk Mail. "Projects" often listed there....

[Trytofly]

On second thought, building with wood is a better option. At least you could fix it with a tube of superglue, like the modelers ( Grappie)What about a powerplant? I "wood" think something classic yet reliable like a Volla!!?

[Trytofly]

My last reply has gone lost. Does anyone know if there are plans available for an aircamper ? I have e-mailed the Pietenpols in New York, but have had no reply. The only thing that remains now is to phone.

[Willie]

A Volksplane VP2 must still be the best value for money and cheapest to build. Like building a boat. Fit a rotary engine and fly 110 mph. My VP2 is fitted with a 0235 Lycoming 115hp and can do 110 mph easy. Jan Kemp in Volksrus fitted a Jetta 1800 and did interesting flying.

To get to know all you want about Piet&Paul talk to “Spoke eagle” on Avcom in Rustenburg. I flew next to him many times in my Hatz CB1 Bi-plane. Al the aircraft require a PPL.

[Trytofly]

Willie,

Thanks for that. What does a Volksplane look like?