In the early days of aviation, long before flight kits and factory-built planes, one man in rural southeastern Minnesota believed that flying should be simple, affordable, and accessible to anyone willing to try.

Bernard Pietenpol, a mechanic and inventor from Cherry Grove, built his own airplanes using everyday materials and automobile engines—often testing them from open fields and country roads. What began as backyard experimentation helped shape the world of homebuilt aviation and inspired generations of pilots and builders around the globe.

In this episode of Roots & Riddles, we explore Pietenpol’s life, his groundbreaking designs, and how a small Fillmore County town became an unlikely hub of aviation innovation. It’s a story of curiosity, persistence, and the belief that even in the most rural places, big ideas can take flight.