Or How To Fly An Early Sport Plane Through The Window

By ANN Correspondent Rose Dorcey

It was a standing room only crowd at last Saturday's celebration of Monroe County Aviation History and the Pietenpol Air Camper at the Deke Slayton Memorial Space and Bike Museum in Sparta (WI). The museum proudly unveiled its latest acquisition, a fire-engine red Pietenpol Air Camper built from 1932 plans and donated by Chicago's Don Campbell.

Last June, Campbell visited Sparta, the home of Astronaut Donald K. "Deke" Slayton. While touring the museum, he casually mentioned to Museum Director Kay Bender that he owns two Pietenpol's similar to a model he saw hanging there. Always on the lookout for museum assets, Bender half-jokingly said to Campbell, "If you have two, you can give one to the museum." Campbell left without giving a commitment, but in the weeks that followed, he became aware of the many educational programs the museum offers to both students and adults, and he convinced himself that donating an aircraft to the museum was the right thing to do.

Campbell contacted Bender and the two came up with an ambitious plan to have the airplane installed by the end of the year. Bender spoke with Jim Reisinger of the Monroe County Aviators, who enthusiastically agreed to coordinate the effort to bring the Pietenpol from the Brodhead (WI) airport to Sparta. After consulting with engineers to verify that the century-old building could support the 600-pound aircraft, a semi-truck was secured, along with a couple of dozen of able-bodied volunteers. The never-flown Pietenpol was partially disassembled and placed on a truck bound for Sparta.

On a sunny, but more important, calm day in November, the Pietenpol arrived at 200 West Main Street. Sparta Mayor John Gomez waited in a crane to lift the 30-foot wing to the second floor window of the museum. Perched by the window, about a dozen members of the Monroe County Aviators guided the wing through the narrow opening. Meanwhile, another dozen or so volunteers brought the fuselage up a winding staircase, around corners, and through the museum's constricted foyer. Mission accomplished; time to reassemble the airplane. The wing and landing gear were reattached, as was the faux radiator, a measure used to lighten the load of the plane.

At the February 19 celebration, Master of Ceremonies Jim Reisinger introduced a host of well-wishers including Sparta Mayor Gomez and a representative from the neighboring City of Tomah, Chuck Pollard; along with Dennis Hubbard of the Monroe County Supervisors. Keynote Speaker Tom Thomas (above), Chief, Aviation Management and Education Section of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Bureau of Aeronautics, said the accomplishment was one that "celebrates fantastic teamwork while preserving an important piece of aviation history."

The efforts of the Monroe County Aviators, Kay Bender and museum staff and a host of volunteers and those who gave monetary contributions were heralded by nearly 150 museum guests. The Pietenpol is a showpiece among the museum's diverse displays. The museum shows a progression of transportation from the first bicycles, to the Wright Brother's Bicycle Shop; to aviation in Monroe County and into outer space with Monroe County's own Mercury 7 Astronaut. The role of the Monroe County Aviators is to preserve the rich aviation history of the county and to encourage and introduce youth to the opportunities open to them in the field of aviation.

FMI: www.dekeslayton.com