Christmas Program 2009
"I wonder if his mother Mary baked him a birthday cake"
Dad's Pietenpol Dream - A Reality
The following article was written by my Dad's wife, Gloria. Dream of building, flying own airplane comes true for Ionia man By Gloria Garman-Schlaefli Dick Schlaefli, Ionia, has achieved his dream of building and flying his own airplane. It took 15 years to complete, but for Dick being able to now fly his Pietenpol Air Camper was well worth the long wait. Dick developed his love of flying during high school when his three uncles, Ray and Dan Richardson and Jim VanSickle, each had his own airplane and Dick would take frequent rides with them. His interest in flying continued into college and while attending Fort Hays State University, he took lessons and earned his pilot's license. He built model airplanes and did control line flying with them, but hoped some day to be able to fly in his own airplane. It was in a magazine article that he first learned about the Pietenpol airplane. He learned that Bernard Pietenpol designed and built the first Air Camper, in 1929 in Cherry Grov
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