Pietenpol Sky Scout

Pietenpol Sky Scout: The Purest 1920s Solo Experience

The Pietenpol Sky Scout is the nimble, single-seat sibling of the world-famous Air Camper. Designed in the late 1920s by Bernard Pietenpol, it was created for a specific purpose: to allow people to fly using the heavy but cheap Ford Model T engine. While the Air Camper needed the Model A engine to carry two people, the Sky Scout was designed to be lighter, simpler, and flown solo. It is a masterpiece of “Golden Age” aviation that you can build from scratch.

Why Is It a Legend?

• Traditional Wood Craftsmanship: Just like its big brother, the Sky Scout is built entirely from spruce wood and plywood, covered in fabric. It is a true “stick and rudder” airplane built with the same techniques used in the 1920s.

• The “Model T” Miracle: It is legendary for being one of the few airplanes successfully designed around the Ford Model T auto engine. Today, however, most builders upgrade to a Ford Model A, a Volkswagen conversion, or a small Continental A65 for better performance.

• Plans-Built Pioneer: There are no “snap-together” kits here. This is built from blueprints (plans). It represents the purest form of homebuilding: buying lumber, cutting it to size, and gluing it together to create a flying machine.

• Open-Cockpit Romance: It offers the quintessential “wind in your face” experience. With its parasol wing (wing above the fuselage) and open cockpit, it provides unmatched visibility and the feeling of flying a WWI-era trainer.

Performance and Key Numbers
The Sky Scout is not about getting somewhere fast; it is about the joy of being in the air. It is slow, stable, and docile—a Sunday flyer in its purest form.

General Specifications:

• Crew: 1 pilot

• Wingspan: 27 ft (8.2 m)

• Length: 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m)

• Wing Area: 140 sq ft (13 m²)

• Empty Weight: 550 – 600 lbs (250 – 272 kg)

• Max Takeoff Weight: 950 lbs (430 kg)

• Useful Load: Approx. 350 lbs (158 kg)

• Typical Engine Power: 40 – 65 hp (Ford Model T, VW, or Continental A65)

Performance:

• Glide Ratio: Approx. 9:1

• Cruise Speed: 65 – 75 mph (105 – 120 km/h)

• Stall Speed: 32 – 35 mph (51 – 56 km/h)

• Rate of Climb: 200 – 500 ft/min (1 – 2.5 m/s) depending on engine

• Takeoff Distance: 250 – 400 ft (75 – 120 m)

• Fuel Consumption: 3 – 4 gallons per hour (11 – 15 L/h)

• Range: Approx. 200 miles (320 km)

In short, the Pietenpol Sky Scout is the perfect choice if you are a nostalgic builder who loves working with wood, wants to relive the 1920s, and believes that the best view of the world is through the struts of an open-cockpit parasol wing.