A Homebuilt Classic on Display

Story and photos by Gord McNulty
June 2025
The nifty Pietenpol Air Camper has held an enduring appeal in the world of homebuilt aviation. Self-taught aircraft designer Bernard H. Pietenpol (1901-1984) of Cherry Grove, Minnesota created a simple yet innovative design. It first flew in 1928 and became a popular choice for amateur builders in the 1930s.
Pietenpol Air Camper C-GNDX at Saskatoon Airport, June 23 2024.
A fine example of the tandem two-seat parasol wing monoplane, displayed in the terminal of the Saskatoon John G. Diefenbaker International Airport, caught my attention during the CAHS Convention in June 2024. Pietenpol Air Camper C-GNDX was constructed by Clifford Paddington of Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan and registered in 2011.
Pietenpol Air Camper C-GNDX displayed in the terminal of Saskatoon Airport, June 23 2024.
Mr. Paddington generously donated the aircraft to the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum in 2021. As noted by the museum, the Air Camper was designed for enthusiasts with basic woodworking, welding, and metal fabrication skills. It was both affordable and adaptable. In The Aircraft of the World, published in 1965, William Green and Gerald Pollinger noted a 40 horsepower converted Model A Ford engine was the original pre-Second World War powerplant.

In fact, the aircraft was capable of using more than 60 engine types ranging from the 65 hp Continental A-65 to Lycoming or Franklin powerplants and also Corvair auto engines up to 110 hp. Green and Pollinger stated, “Examples of the Air Camper vary considerably, but all have fabric-covered wooden wings and fuselage.”

The sturdy Air Camper was also the first aircraft to feature split axle landing gear, a design innovation that complemented its low - and slow - flying style.

C-GNDX was equipped with a Continental A-65. Displayed minus one wing, it’s a fitting celebration of the ingenuity of Bernard Pietenpol and a tribute to the DIY spirit of aviation enthusiasts.