American airplanes: Ab - Ak (original) (raw)
A E R O F I L E S A CENTURY OF AMERICAN AVIATION
REVISED: 4/8/05
AASI
c.1990: AASI Aircraft/Advanced Aerodynamics & Structures Inc (ceo: Roy Norris), Burbank CA. 1998: Long Beach CA. 2002: Acquired Mooney assets as Mooney Aerospace Group Ltd (qv).
Jetcruzer 450 19?? (TC A49NM) = No data.
AASI 500 [N200JC] (AASI)
Jetcruzer 500 1994 - 6pClwM rg canard; 1570hp P&W; PT6A-66A turboprop with 7'0" 5-blade pusher prop; span: 42'2" length: 30'2" load: 1850# v: 345/325/x range: 1277 ceiling: 30,000' (projected figures). Pressurized cabin. The world's only "Spin Resistant" FAA certification.
AASI 1250 (AASI)
Stratocruzer 1250 200? - Business fanjet. 13pClwM rg canard; two 2300# Williams Rolls FJ-44-2 fanjets; v: x/500/x range: 3700 ceiling: 41,000' (projected figures). Pressurized cabin; "world's longest-range aircraft in its class." In development since 1994.
Abbott
John L Abbott, Detroit MI.
Midwing 1931 = 1pOmwM; 28hp Lawrance. POP: 1 [820Y]. This is typical of some entries herein where a judgment call was made as to the original make of aircraft. In this case, a scarcity of documentation leads one to believe it might be a plan- or kit-built Church Mid-Wing renamed by its builder.
Abrams
1929: ABC Airline Corp, Lansing MI. 1930: (Talbert) Abrams Aerial Survey Corp. 1936: Abrams Air Craft Corp, 606 E Shiawassee St, Lansing MI.
Abrams P-1 [X19897] (K O Eckland coll)
Abrams P-1 Rated its own "Wings" trading card
P-1 Explorer 1937 = 2pClwM; 330hp Wright R-975 pusher; span: 36'0" length: 26'6" load: 1410# v: 185/165/66 range: 1400; ff: 11/?/37. Talbert Abrams, Kenneth Ronan; constructed by Ronan & Kunzl of Marshall MI. Created as a photo-survey plane with a service ceiling of 21,000'. POP: 1 [X19897]. Repowered with 450hp supercharged Wright in 1938; v: 200/185/66.
Abreu
Aeronautical Engineering Co, Oakland CA.
AE-5 1929 = 2pOhwM; 90hp LeRhône rotary; span: 38'0" length: 29'0". Joaquin S Abreu. Steel-tube fuselage, wood-framed parasol wing. The engine and belly fuel pod was a detachable unit that could be released from the cockpit in case of fire or a dire emergency, and the ship would become a glider. In its first test, this was demonstrated at Alameda CA. From 5,500' the motor and tank unit was jettisoned, falling into sand dunes by the bay, and the ship glided for about 15 minutes before heading for the runway. There a group of people running toward the oncoming ship forced pilot Reed Vowles to swerve the plane and nose it into soft ground, sustaining minor damage. POP: 1 [592].
A C A SEE American Champion
Ace
1919: Aircraft Engineering Corp, 535 E 79 St, New York NY. c.1920: Rights acquired by Horace Keane, (sales office) 280 Madison Ave, NYC, (plant) North Beach, Long Island NY. 1931: It is unclear how this line relocated on the West Coast some 10 years after Keane's ownership, but two Ace models are shown in DoC registers as produced by Aircraft Engineering at 5400 Telegraph Ave, Oakland CA.
Ace K-1 (1919 Flying)
Ace K-1 Beautiful 1955 restoration by L T Lowery (William T Larkins)
K-1 Biplane 1919 = 1pOB; 40hp Ace; span: 28'4" length: 18'0" (>16'1") load: 225# v: 63/55/30 range: 160. Alexander Klemin (Professor of Aeronautical Engineering, NYU), N W Dalton. Prototype had Ford T motor. One of the first planes to be built on an assembly line, primitive as it was. Four "self-aligning" I-struts, all-wood frame. Manufactured at the ACE Flying Field in New York City's Central Park. 2,500;POP:8,oneofwhichmadequiteasplashinthenationalpresswhenitlandedonClayStinOaklandCAasapublicitystunt,1/22/20(p:CVPickup).The1920versionwasmodifiedwithbeefed−upstruts,redesignedfuselagewithenclosedmotor,foldingwings;span:25′0"load:235v:80/x/32;2,500; POP: 8, one of which made quite a splash in the national press when it landed on Clay St in Oakland CA as a publicity stunt, 1/22/20 (p: C V Pickup). The 1920 version was modified with beefed-up struts, redesigned fuselage with enclosed motor, folding wings; span: 25'0" load: 235 v: 80/x/32; 2,500;POP:8,oneofwhichmadequiteasplashinthenationalpresswhenitlandedonClayStinOaklandCAasapublicitystunt,1/22/20(p:CVPickup).The1920versionwasmodifiedwithbeefed−upstruts,redesignedfuselagewithenclosedmotor,foldingwings;span:25′0"load:235v:80/x/32;3,000. Also produced in 1931 with Salmson AD-9 [952Y] c/n 1, and LeBlond 5D [953Y] c/n 2, registered as Ace 300 and 200 respectively. One located and restored in California 1955 [N69097]. SEE ALSO Keane Ace.
ACE
(Albert C & Fred G) Essig Aero Advertising Service, Los Angeles CA.
1928 = 2pOlwM; 125hp Siemens SH-14; span: 34'0" length: 26'0" load: 500# v: 125/110/35. Full-cantilever wing. POP: 1. Aviation described this as "a typically German low-wing monoplane with a plywood wing, and a welded steel fuselage," which suggests a design in the Aeromarine class.
Ace SEE Corben
Ace
1965: Ace Aircraft Mfg Co (fdr: Thurman G Baird), Asheville NC. Acquired assets and rights to (ex-Corben) Baby Ace, as well as to American Flea and Heath Parasol.
Model D Baby Ace 1965 = 1pOhwM; 65-85hp various; span: 26'5" length: 17'9" load: 375# v: 110/100/34 range: 350 ceiling: 16,000' (data for 65hp). Much-modified evolution of the original Corben design. Marketed plans and kits for home-builders. ALSO SEE Corben Ace, EAA Baby Ace.
Model E Junior Ace 1965 = 2p version of Model D with 85hp Continental C-85 and side-by-side cockpit; span: 26'0" length: 18'0" load: 526# v: 130/105/65 range: 350 ceiling: 10,000'.
ACE-Falcon SEE Welch OW-5M
Acme
Acme Aircraft Corp, Loves Park (Rockford) IL.
Biplane 1928 = 2pOB; 85hp Wright-Gypsy. POP: 1 [C44N] (also appears in some registers as Sportsman).
Acme Sportsman Three-view
Sportsman (Model 21) 1928 = 2pOhwM; 55hp Velie M-5; span: 36'0" length: 22'11"; ff: 10/2/29. Edward Stalker (University of Michigan). Folding wings. POP: 2 with Velie [X152E, 13622], the last of which later had 100hp Kinner K-5 and was rechristened by its owner as Smith O, and 1 with 45hp Szekely [3028]. [X152E] is also noted in registers as Para-monoplane, for what that's worth.
Acme
Acme Aircraft Co (Hugh Crawford, C Roger Keeney), Torrance CA. (Certain rights and equipment either to or from Longren Aircraft Co, Torrance; data are sketchy).) 1953: Sierradyne Inc, 6335 Riggs Pl, Los Angeles CA.
Acme Centaur 101
Centaur 101, 102 c.1953 = 6p conversion of surplus Stinson/Convair L-13A for bush flying, based on a prototype by Longren Aircraft Co, Torrance CA [N4901V]. Centaur 101 had 300hp Lycoming R-680-E3, Centaur 102 with 300hp Jacobs R-755-A2. POP: unknown, reportedly only a few.
F8F-2 195? (TC AR-32) = Civil conversion of Grumman F8F-2, possibly for racing.
Acme Sierra at Edwards FTC [N12K], photo captioned: "Northrop Co. flying demonstrator ... represents the company's concept for the Air Force AX close-support aircraft design competition. Pusher system eliminates torque problems found in single-engine puller designs, Northrop believes." (Aviation Week via Ron Dupas)
Sierra S-1 Sportplane 1948 = 1pCmwM; 85hp Continental C-85 pusher; span: 20'2" length: 18'0" v: 200. Empty wt: 590#. Ron Beattie, Walt Fellers; built by Acme's Crawford and Keeney. Tail-mounted propeller. POP: 1 midget racer Sierra Sue built and flown, but never competed [N12K]; aka Beattie-Fellers S-1 (Ronald Beattie & Walter Fellers) in 1960. Used by Sierradyne in the '60s to test and promote Northrop's and Dr Werner Pfenninger's boundary layer control concepts, although it was never officially a Northrop plane. Reported by John D Lyon as presently displayed at Los Angeles Science Museum.
A Northrop idea for the AX Competition for USAF. I believe that the AX Competition led to the two prototypes Northrop A-9A and Fairchild-Hiller A-10A. The latter won, of course, and was built in quantity. I don't have reference material at hand, but I remember that in the early stages of the competition, turboprops were being considered for the AX, although the prototypes built under contract had turbofans. (-- Jack Erickson 5/20/01)
ACME
1954: Air Craft Marine Engineering Co, Van Nuys CA.
Anser Amphib - 4pCmwMAm twin-jet prototype fighter was reported under construction in 1958, but never completed. Assigned RS-695B project number by the Army Air Forces Air Materiel Command. "Anser" was acronymic for "Analytical Service Inc," involved in the project to an unknown degree.
In the early 1960s resources were directed to a twin-jet amphibious Counter Insurgency fighter of the same general configuration, but with a fighter cockpit configuration and other accommodations. The COIN fighter selected at the time was North American OV-10A. I worked on ACME's COIN aircraft, but lost contact with the organization later in the '60s. (-- Joseph F Smith Jr 3/18/04)
Acosta SEE Armada
Acro
Acro Sport Inc, Hales Corners WI.
Sport 19?? = 1pOB; 100-200hp various; span: 19'7" length: 17'6" v: x/130/50. Aerobatic capability. Marketed plans and kits.
Sport II 1978 = 2pOB; span: 21' 8" length: 20'9" load: 645# v: 123/x/53; ff: 7/9/78. Also marketed plans for Super Acro Sport, Pober Pixie.
Activian
1928: Grays Harbor Airways (pres: Carl Morek), Aberdeen WA; production rights bought from Santa Ana Aircraft Co, Eddie Martin Airport (now John Wayne Airport), Santa Ana CA.
Santa Ana VM-1 [X4564] (clip: Orange Co Airport brochure)
1928 = 3pChwM; 80hp Anzani; span: 38'3" length: 25'0" load: 750# v: 90/x/45 range: 500. Purchase and rename of J O York's Santa Ana monoplane as prototype, with possible modifactions for commercial use. Later with 100hp Kinner. No record of further production. c.$2,500; POP: 1 [4504]. Probable reg error, should be [4564].
Adam
Adam Aircraft Industries (fdr/pres: Rick Adam), Denver CO.
A500 CarbonAero 2002 = 6pClwM rg; 700hp Continental; ff: 7/11/02 (p: Glenn Maben).
A700 2003 = ff: 7/27/03.
Adam M-309 [N309A] (Adam Co)
M-309 2000 = 6pClwM rg; two 300hp Continental TSIO-550-G in pusher-puller tandem; span: 42'0" length: 34'6" load: 2300# v: 288/253/x ceiling: 25,000'; ff: 3/21/2000. Burt Rutan. Pressurized cabin; twin-booms. Composite construction by Scaled Composites in Mojave CA. POP: 1 prototype [N309A].
Adams
J Adams, Staten Island NY.
B-4 1930 = 1pOhwM; Henderson motorcycle engine. No data, possibly a modified Pietenpol [742Y].
Adams Industries SEE Thorp
Adams-Toman
(?) Adams-(Phil) Toman Aircaft Co, Aberdeen WA.
ATA Cruiser 1928 = 3pChwM; 110hp Warner Scarab; span: 38'3" length: 25'0" load: 800#. Empty wt: 1200#. Semi-cantilever wing. POP: 1 [NX14M] s/n 100. Registration noted: "May be entered in National Air Races." Fate unknown; registration reassigned to Lockheed in 1952. This might be a Warner-powered copy of Activian.
Adams-Wilson SEE Hobbycopter
Adcox
1929: Adcox Aviation Trades School (Aircraft Builders Corp), Portland OR. 1929: Reorganized as First National Flying System.
1-A 1929 = 2pOB; Hisso. [X246K] c/n 1001.
Cloud Buster 1931 = 2pCM; 40hp Salmson AD-9. POP: 1 student project [NC10644]. Repowered in 1936 with 65hp LeBlond. This appears in some regs as a product of Bidwell-Yale Aviation Co; SEE Bidwell.
This has a complicated history as Adcox A-100, sold to Groat Aeronautical, who sold it to Shirley P Yale Air Service, who in turn sold it to William B Bidwell on 8/20/31, at which time it was called Cloud Buster Junior. It then went through several other owners before being scrapped in 1938. (-- John M Jarratt 7/20/02)
Adcox Special [10471] (Ralph Nortell)
Adcox Special [10471] (Frank Rezich coll)
Special 1929 = 2pOB; 100hp Kinner K-5. POP: 1 student project [10471]. Design evolved into aptly-named Student Prince.
Student Prince [NC893K] (Ralph Nortell)
Student Prince (Aircraft Builders ) 1929 (ATC 2-258) = 2pOB; 85hp Cirrus Mk III; span: 30'3" length: 23'6" load: 585# v: 110/85/37 range: 500; ff: 9/17/29 (p: B B Smith). Basil B Smith. POP: 6, of which only 3 were certificated [NC263V, X828M, NC893K], the other 3 being restricted to flights within Oregon. The last one ended up certificated after WW2 as an amateur-built aircraft. Cirrus, with inherent dependability problems, was soon replaced by 100hp Kinner K-5, then 110hp Warner, 150hp Comet, and 150hp Hisso A (one even gained a 220hp Continental in 1963).
Student Prince X (Aircraft Builders ) 1931 = 90hp ACE. POP: 1 [NC10686].
A D I
Aircraft Design Inc (pres: Martin Hollman), Monterey CA.
Stallion 1994 = 4pChwM rg; 280hp Continental IO-550-G; span: 35'6" length: 25'0" load: 1400# v: 241/224/69 range: 1500. [N408S].
Adkins
Cliff Adkins, Parkston SD.
c.1973 = 1pChwM; 75hp Continental C-75; span: 19'6". Empty wt: 554#. [N1857]. Based on Tailwind and Cougar designs.
Midwing 1957 = 1pCmwM; 65hp Continental; span: 18'3" v: x/110/x range: 250. POP: 1 [N2148C].
Adkisson
Earl and Jerry Adkisson, John Canfield, Lincoln NB.
SJ-1 Head Skinner 1958 = 1pOhwM; 65hp Continental (replaced with 125hp Lycoming O-290-G4 Canfield c.1963); span: 24'6" length: 20'0" load: 300# v: 180/150/60 range: 300. Gull-wing.
Advance
1923: Advance Aircraft Co (V C Babcock, H A Kulberg), location unknown.
Advance? Verification needed (TKnL coll)
c.1923 = 1pOB. Logic says this is Vearne Clifton Babcock (SEE Babcock and Taubman), but there was no info found on this creation. Note odd rudder and overhanging ailerons! Minuscule lettering at top of rudder says: "Advance Aircraft Co," and on fuselage is: "DISPATCHEUR" and "C-3." The only Advance Co we know of was an early Waco name, but this is certainly not one of theirs.
Advanced
1983: Advanced Aircraft Corp, Carlsbad CA. 198x: Riley International Corp.
1983 = Cessna conversions to PT6A turboprops.
Advanced Aerodynamics SEE AASI
Aerial Distributors
1967: Aerial Distributors Inc, Wichita KS.
Distributor Wing DWI-1 Photo and cutaway art (Avn Week via Ron Dupas)
Distributor Wing DWI-1 1965 = Unusual twin-engine 1pClwM agricultural aircraft with a powered, internally-mounted spray system; two stacked Lycomings — a 350hp IGO-540 for flight and a 108hp O-235 (>O-320) driving an axial-flow fan; span: 43'10" length: 28'4" v: x/70-150/74; ff: 1/30/65. The plane climbed at 350fpm at gross weight of 5,200# with just the O-540; the O-235 powered the spray system and provided thrust augmentation. Guide vanes in the wings increased flap effectiveness. Cutaway art shows air flow path into an hydraulically-run metering gate feeding material from the hopper, through wing ducts and out variable wing slots. Hopper was a drop-in unit, fuel was in leading-edge tanks.
Aerial Equipment
Aerial Equipment Co (fdrs: Ben Catchins, Yves de Villiers, F H Johnson), New York NY.
1910 = No data. Perhaps the company was only a supply house.
Aerial Experimental Association (AEA)
1907-09: A design consortium comprised of F W Baldwin, Glenn H Curtiss, John McCurdy, and Lt Thomas Selfridge gathered by Alexander Graham Bell at his Canadian home; an early "think tank," advancing the experiments of Australian Lawrence Hargrave during the 1890s. Aircraft were built at Hammondsport NY.
AEA Red Wing (Paul Matt coll via Avn Heritage coll)
Aerodrome #1, Red Wing 1908 = 1pOBF(skids); 40hp* Curtiss air-cooled V-8 pusher; span: 43'4" length: 26'3" load: 185#. Thomas Selfridge. Named for its red fabric coloring, covered thusly for the sake of documenting photography. First public flight of an airplane in the US. Having no lateral control, it crashed on its first flight at Lake Keuka NY on 3/12/08 after flying a distance of 318'11" (p: F W Baldwin). *Actual flight efficiency was estimated to be less than 20hp.
Aerodrome #2, White Wing 1908 = 1pOB; 40hp Curtiss air-cooled V-8 pusher; span: 42'3" length: 26'3" load: 175#; ff: 5/18/08 (p: Baldwin). F W Baldwin. Tricycle gear; first use of ailerons (which led to long-term litigation over the Wright Brothers' claim of violation of their patent for movable wing surfaces). Lateral control of movable, triangular ailerons was by way of a body yoke attached to the pilot, who leaned in the direction of a turn. Flew a distance of 1,017' on 5/21/08 (p: Glenn Curtiss). Damaged beyond repair on landing two days later, and abandoned.
Aerodrome #3, June Bug 1908 = 1pOB; 40-50hp Curtiss air-cooled V-8 pusher; span: 42'6" length: 27'6" load: 142# v: 39; ff: 5/21/08 (p: Curtiss) for a distance of 152 yds. Glenn Curtiss. Employed pilot-induced movable wing-tips as ailerons, as on White Wing. Made a total of 32 flights until Aug 31, one of which marked the first plane to fly one kilometer, on 7/4/08, at a recorded 39mph, for which Curtiss was awarded the Scientific American trophy. Design evolved into 1909 Curtiss Golden Flyer.
AEA Loon (Paul Matt coll via Avn Heritage coll)
Aerodrome #3-A, Loon 1908 = June Bug as a twin-pontoon floatplane, attained a surface speed of 27mph, but failed to break loose from the water. During subsequent attempts it went out of control, sank in the shallows, and became frozen in the ice. Further experiments in water take-off were left to Curtiss' 1911 Hydroaeroplane.
AEA Silver Dart (Leslie Burgess coll)
AEA Silver Dart
Aerodrome #4, Silver Dart 1908 = 1pOB; 35-50hp Curtiss water-cooled V-8 pusher; span: 49'1" length: 30'0" load: 290#* v (est): 40; ff: 12/6/08 (p: McCurdy). John McCurdy. *Calculated useful load showed figures of 150# for pilot, 110# of gas and oil (including tank), and 30# of water. Made from steel tube, bamboo, friction tape, wire and wood, it was covered with rubberized silk balloon-cloth, its propeller was carved from a solid block of wood, and it had no brakes. The last of AEA's team efforts, it went to Canada and became the first airplane to fly in that country, on 2/23/09 (p: McCurdy). Although the Canadian Army was unimpressed and felt that airplanes would never amount to much in actual warfare, AEA was finally invited to the base at Petawawa to show their machine. Sandy terrain there was problem for the aircraft's small wheels — there was great difficulty taking off. Then, on the fifth flight, McCurdy wrecked the craft on landing when one wheel struck a rise in the ground, and thus ended the career of the Silver Dart.
Aerodrome #5, Cygnet 1909 = Odd "flying wall" on skids with a huge frontal surface composed of 360 tetrahedral cells — a concept carried forward from Bell's 1902 kite designs — arranged in a rectangular wingform, and with the pilot perched well out in front on skids; span: 40'0" (>52'6") length: 13'1". Tested at Baddeck, Nova Scotia, on 2/22 and 24/1909, but failed to fly. Alexander G Bell. Developed from 1907 kite-glider Cygnet I, which was towed by a motorboat to an altitude of 168' (p: T Selfridge), but was destroyed in landing on the water. As Cygnet II, it was modified with tricycle gear, 26'4" span, and an 8-cylinder Curtiss motor, with no success. It did finally fly, as Cygnet III, with 70hp Gnôme; rotary to help overcome its frontal mass, from ice-covered Lake Bras d'Or, Nova Scotia, on 3/1/12, attaining 43mph (p: J McCurdy).
Aerial Navigation SEE Call
Aerial Service SEE Mercury
Aerial Transit
Aerial Transit Co, Singer Bldg, Manhattan NY.
1908 = Little was found about this intriguing project, quite apparently unbuilt. July 1909 Fly reported formation and funding of the company to develop "the Pennington devices ... a combination of dirigible and aeroplane" that would result in a machine 1,250' long capable of traveling 9,000 miles in a single voyage, and that contracts were signed for "several aeroplanes at $5,000 each." First stock issue was claimed to have gone to none less than Standard Oil Co, and construction would be at the (Lewis) Nixon shipyards on Staten Island, one of the principals.
Aerial Transport
Aerial Transport Corp, New York NY.
V.B.L.-1 1921 = OB tractor described as an "express transport of three-ply construction." John M Jarratt finds in 1922 Eaton Chronicles that Rogers Construction Co (SEE CD Air Express) "... takes over the building of a Sport Biplane designed by C H Day of the defunct Aerial Transportation [sic] Corp." Then in 1925, "Charles 'Pop' Dickinson buys the C D Air Express from Rogers," which is described as a C H Day design. This would be conclusive proof that VBL-1 and CD Express are one and the same.
Aerocar SEE Taylor Aerocar
Aero Car
Joseph L Halsmer, Lafayette IN.
1959 = 2phwOM. Roadable airplane with two engines in a tractor-pusher configuration; tri-cycle gear. Airline captain Helsmer built this machine over a two-year period for $2,300 [N9085C]. It was later converted into single-engine Aero Car 3. Halsmer also built a high-wing two-seater (Model 2?) with a uni-twin arrangement of two 65hp engines driving two counter-rotating props. [N12043]
Model 3 c.1963 = 2phwOM; 85hp Continental pusher; span: 30'0" length: 19'0"; v: 105/85/48. Roadable airplane with a pusher engine and four-blade prop. Wing with wood spar and aluminum ribs; fabric-covered steel tube fuselage; quad gear with steerable front wheels. The wings could be folded by one man in five minutes for driving as a car up to 50mph. [N9085C].
Aero Commander
Dec 1944: Aero Engr Co. 1950: Aero Design & Engr Corp (Ted Smith et al), Culver City CA. 1950: Aero Commander Inc, Bethany OK. c.1958: Aero Design & Engr Co. 1965: Aero Commander Div of Rockwell Standard Corp; acquired rights to Snow S-2. 1965: Acquired rights and tooling to Meyers 200; Albany GA. 1967: Ended operations when Rockwell Standard merged with North American Corp as North American Rockwell/Rockwell Commander Inc. 197?: General Aviation Div, North American Rockwell. Also Butler Mfg Co; Ted Smith & Associates (Aerostar Corp), Santa Maria CA. 19??: Aero Design & Engr, Bethany OK. 19??: Aerostar Aircraft Corp, Couer d'Alene ID.
Aero Commander 100 Cadet [N3871X] (Ron Dupas)
100, Cadet, Darter 1965 = Continuance of Volaire 1050. 4pChwM; 150hp ?; load: 970 v: 142/128/48 rang: 510 ceiling: 13,000. $8,950 in 1969. Name changed to Darter in 1968.
Aero Commander 200D [N2943T]
200D 1966 = New production of Meyers 200D. 4pClwM rg; 285hp ?; load: 1060# v: 235/215/54 range: 1,060 ceiling: 18,500'.
200E 1967 = Swept-tail 6p version of 200D. POP: 1.
500, Shrike, Esquire Shrike 1969 = 4-8pChwM rg; two 250-290hp Lycoming IO-540E; span: 49'5" length: 36'8" load: 2230# v: 215/203/78 range: 750 ceiling: 19,400'. $103,950. The only twin in its class approved for limited aerobatics, as demonstrated by Bob Hoover in tours.
Aero Commander 520 [N4166B] (Ralph Nortell)
520 (Model L-3805) 1948 = 6pChwM rg; two 190hp Lycoming O-435; span: 43'10" length: 32'0" load: 1318# v: 181/165/56 range: 700; ff: 4/23/48. Ted Smith. POP: 1 prototype [NX/N1946].
520 1951 (TC 6A1) = 5-7pChwM rg; two 260hp Lycoming GO-435; span: 43'10" length: 34'3" load: 1850# v: 211/197/60 range: 850. In production, subsequent dash numbers represented individual planes. 45,000,45,000, 45,000,66,000 in 1954; POP: 150 by end of production in 1954, of which 3 to Army and USAF as L-26. Later marketed as Ted Smith Aerostar 600/601, and Rockwell 560/680/685/710 series, Shrike Commander, Hawk Commander, Turbo Commander.
560, 560-A 1955 = 5-7pChwM rg; two 295hp Lycoming GO-480-G1B6; span: 49'6" length: 35'0" load: 2200# v: 222/210/66 range: 1625 ceiling: 22,500'.
580-E c.1957 = Similar to 560-A with 275hp Lycoming GO-480D.
600 c.1970 (TC 2A7, A3SW) = ChwM rg; two 290hp Lycoming IO-540; span: 34'3" length: 34'10" load: 2075# v: 260/250/77 range: 1400 ceiling: 22,000'.
Aero Commander 680 (Ron Dupas)
680-E c.1957 = 4-6pChwM rg; two 320hp Lycoming GSO-480B-A6; span: 49'6" length: 35'1" v: 255/226/85 range: 1400.
700 SEE Aerostar 700.
Aero Commander Alticruiser prototype [N7200] (Ted Smith Co)
720 Alticruiser 1958 = Improved 680 as the world's first certificated, pressurized, non-airline business plane; 4-6pChwM rg; two 340hp supercharged Lycoming GSO-480B-1A6; span: 47'0" length: 35'5" load: 2600# v: 255/226/71 range: 1550 ceiling: 25,360'. Refrigerated air conditioning, Lear autopilot. $183,750.
Aero Commander 1121 (Ron Dupas coll)
1121 Jet Commander 19?? = No data. Production rights sold to Israel when Rockwell took over operations.
Hawk 1969 (TC 2A4) = 7-9pChwM rg; two 500hp Garret AiResearch TPE-331; span: 44'0" length: 43'0" load: 3935# v: 290/268/94 range: 1490 ceiling: 25,600'. $369,500.
Lark 1968 = 4pChwM; 180hp Lycoming; load: 1000# v: 138/132/60 range: 525 ceiling: 13,000'.
L-26 1956 = USAF and Army version of 520, 560, and 680. All redesignated U-9 in 1962.
YL-26 1952 = Civil 520. Two 260hp Lycoming GO-435C. POP: 3 to Army [52-6217/6219]; became U-9B.
YL-26A 1955 = Civil 560. POP: 1 to USAF [55-3815]; became U-4A.
L-26B 19?? = Civil 560-A. Two 270hp supercharged Lycoming GSO-480. POP: 14 to USAF [55-4634/4646, 57-1791]; became U-4B.
L-26C 1956 = Civil 680, Two 320hp supercharged Lycoming GSO-480B; span: 44'0" v: 255/198/x range: 1500 ceiling: 22,900'. POP: 2 to USAF [55-4647/4648], 4 to Army [56-4023/4026]; became U-9C.
NL-26D, RL-26D 1957 = US Army; electronics systems testing as NL-26D and side-looking radar (SLAR) as RL-26D. POP: 1 NL-26D [57-6531] and 2 RL-26D [57-6183/6184], plus 3 modified from L-26C; became NL-9D and RU-9D. Two more were built, but destroyed in pre-delivery accidents.
Thrush Commander (Rockwell, Quail) 1968 (A3SW) = 1pClwM agplane; 600hp P&W; R-1430-AN1; span: 44'5" length: 24'5" v: 140/124/66 range: 470. Evolution and refinement of Snow S-2. Hopper capacity: 400gal/3,280#. $39,500 in 1968/POP: c.250.
Aero Commander U-9C [56-4023] (Larry DiRicco)
U-4, -9 1962 = USAF and US Army respective redesignations of L-26.
Aerocomp
Aerocomp Inc, Merritt Island FL.
Comp Air 3 19?? = Kit aircraft. 3pChwM. No data.
Comp Air 4 19?? = Kit aircraft. 4pChwm; 150-180hp engines. No data.
Comp Air 6 19?? = Kit aircraft. 6pChwM; 220-300hp; span: 35'0" length: 24'9" load: 1300# v:257/195/55.
Comp Air 7 SL 19?? = Kit aircraft. 6pChwM; 657hp Walter 601D turboprop; span: 33'0" length: 30'6" load: 2000-2300# v: 237/225-250/50-60 range: 900.
Comp Air 7 Turbine 19?? = Kit aircraft. 6-7pChwM; 657hp Walter 601D turboprop; span: 35'0" length: 29'6" load: 1670-2050# v: 257/250/55-65.
Comp Air 8 19?? = Kit aircraft. 6-8pChwM; 657hp Walter 601D turboprop; span: 33'0" length: 31'0" load: 2000-2500 v: 229/225/55 range: 500-700.
Comp Air 10 19?? = Kit aircraft. 10-11pChwM; 300hp Continental, later 724hp Walter LOM 601D. [N4105T].
Merlin 19?? = Kit aircraft. 2pChwM; 65-100hp engines. No data.
Aero Composite
Aero Gare, Mojave CA. 1987: Aero Composite Technology Inc, Somerset PA.
Sea Hawk 1982 = 2-3pCBAm; 70hp Revmaster.
Sea Hawker 1982 = 2pCBAm; 150hp Lycoming O-320; span: 24'0" length: 21'6" load: 750# v: 148/138/42 range: 1200; ff: 7/?/82 [N82SO]. Marketed kits and plans. POP: 32 known flying by Mar 1988.
Aero-Craft
Aero-Craft Mfg Co Inc, Detroit MI.
Aero-Coupe 1928 = 3pO-CB; 120hp Warner Scarab; span: 32'0" length: 24'0" load: 1000# v: 115/100/38 range: 460. F R Anderson, a USAS Brig General at the time. Convertible to an open cockpit for training use, or the seats could be removed to make a cargo/mail bay. $5,800; POP: 1 [4917], crashed in 1926. Selfridge Field Museum (MI) reportedly has info in their files, as well as two small photos.
Aero Design
Aero Design Associates (pres: David Garber), Opa-Locka FL.
DG-1 1977 = 1pCmwM rg; two 330 Mazda RX-3 tractor/pusher; span: 20'0" length: 20'6" load: 600# v (est): 450/350/98 range: 460; ff [N10E]: 7/25/77.
Aero Designs
Aero Designs Inc, San Antonio TX.
Pulsar 1985 = 2pClwM; 64hp Rotax 532; span: 25'0" length: 19'6" load: 440# v: x/130/42 range: 400. Mark Brown. Based on Star Lite prototype [N500SS]. Marketed kits.
Pulsar XP 1992 = 2pClwM; 80hp Rotax 912; load: 550# v (kts): 143/122/x. [[N912XP].
Aero Dynamics
Aero Dynamics Ltd, Div of North American Aero Dynamics (Canada), Arlington WA.
Sparrow Hawk II, IIB 1986 = 2pCmwM, 64hp Rotax 532 (II) or 90hp Norton P62 (IIB) pusher; span: 34'5" length: 17'10" load 700# v (II/IIB): 105-130/95-120/36. Chuck Herbst. Twin-boom. [N8728A].
Aerofan
No data.
1984 = Business aircraft, no data. Little, if any, production noted.
Aero-Flight
1946: Aero-Flight Aircraft Corp (pres: J K Nagamatsu), Buffalo NY. 1947: Long Beach CA.
Aero Flight Streak 225 [N6300C] (Frank Rezich coll)
Streak 85 (AFA-1), 125 (AFA-2), 165 (AFA-3), 225 (?) 1947 = 2pClwM rg; 85hp Continental C-85-12FJ; span: 25'3" length: 21'2" load: 559# v: 175/165/52 range: 700 ceiling: 17,000'. James Nagamatsu (ex-Curtiss Co). All-metal; tricycle gear; tandem cockpits under a bubble canopy. $3,995; POP: 2 [NX92846]; logic suggests that 225 was a Continental and the model probably was AFA-4 [N6300C], but no data were found to substantiate this. Repowered at Long Beach in Oct 1947 with 125hp Continental C-125 as AFA-2 (length: 21'8" load: 600 v: 203/192/55 range: 600-750), and c.1949 as AFA-3 with 165hp Continental C-125 (length: 22'4" load: 635 v: 219/210/x range: 1065). Project abandoned after failing to arouse interest in a saturated post-war market. Disposition of prototype unknown.
AeroLites
AeroLites Inc. (pres. Daniel J Rochè), Welsh LA.
Bearcat 1984 = 1pOhwM; 42hp Rotax 447 or 52hp Rotax 503; span: 30'0" length: 17'6" load: 425# v:75/60/26 range: 120. Jack Hutchinson. Kits for home-builders. Agricultural version as Ag Bearcat with 63hp Rotax 532..
Aeromarine, Aeromarine-Klemm, Uppercu
Aero Mirage
Aero Mirage Inc, Gainesville FL.
TC-2 1983 = 2pClwM rg; 100hp Continental O-200-A; span: 21'0" length: 16'7" load: 425# v: 181/164/57-63; ff: 5/16/83. All-composite construction. [N2484V].
Aeromobile
Aeromobile Safety Plane Syndicate, 215 Thayer Bldg, Norwich CT.
Safety Plane 1937 = 2pChwM; 120hp Ford. [NX17895].
Aeroneer SEE Phillips Aeroneer
Aeromod
Aeromod Inc (pres: E W Moore), N Little Rock AR.
Loadstar Model 100 1966 = 2pCB; 105-180hp Lycoming; ff: 8/?/66. William G Dorsch. Conversion of Piper PA-18 Super Cub or J-3 Cub to biplane.
Aeronautic Supply Co SEE Benoist
Aeroplane ABM
INFORMATION NEEDED
Aeroplane & Automatic Balancing Machine Co.
1910 = No data.
Aero Products
API/Aeronautical Products Inc (fdr: Al Jackson), Detroit MI.
Aero Products A-1 [NX1270] (E J Young coll)
A-1 1944 = 2pCH; 155hp Franklin(?). No data. [NX1270]. Flew in 1945, then vanished.
A-3 1944 = 2pCH; 135hp Franklin; rotor: 30'0" v: 100/x/0. A refinement of A-1. POP: 1 [NX1272], no production.
Aero Resources
Aero Resources Inc, Gardena CA.
J-2 1962 = Development of Jovanovich J-2. 2pCH; 200hp Lycoming O-360-A2D pusher; rotor: 26'0" span: 11'2" length: 16'0" load: 500# v: 122/95/0 range: 200 ceiling: 10,000'. D K Jovanovich. Stub wings supporting twin booms, twin tails. Three-blade rotor with articulated blades, unpowered in horizontal flight.
Aeroscript
Aeroscript Corp (Morris Kamar, Pincus Cashman, Minnie Israel), New York NY.
INFORMATION NEEDED
1929 = No data.
Aero Spacelines
1961: Aero Spacelines, Inc (pres: A M "Tex" Johnson), Van Nuys CA. 1965: Aero Spacelines div of Unexcelled Inc (pres: V Read), Goleta CA -- designer Jack Conroy to Conroy Aircraft Corp. 1974: Became a division of Tracor.
Guppy 201 Acquired by NASA (NASA)
B-377GT aka Guppy-201 1970 = Four 4912hp Allison 501-D22C turboprops; span: 156'3" length: 143'10" payload: 54,000# v: x/288/x range: 500; ff: 8/24/40. Upper fuselage lobe with interior diameter of 25' added to stretched C-97 fuselage, plus parts from Airbus, Concorde, DC-10, and TriStar; engines from retired Lockheed Electras. POP: 4; 2 built by Aero Spacelines in early 1970s [N211AS/212AS] and sold to Airbus Industrie/Aérospatiale to haul components of A300Bs and Concordes, and 2 built in early 1980s for Airbus by UTA Industries in France. Retired by Airbus in early '90s; reportedly 3 went to European museums, and the last one was bought by NASA and is presently in use in the US.
B-377MG Mini Guppy 1967 = Four 3500hp P&W; R-4360-B6 Wasp Major or 4912hp Allison 501-D22C turboprops; span: 156'3" length: 132'10"; ff: 5/24/67. Stretched ex-USAF C-97 modified by addition of new upper fuselage lobe with interior radius of 18'; swing-tail for cargo loading. POP: 2 [N1037V, N111AS]; first aircraft powered by R-4360s, second by Allisons taken from Lockheed Electras; crashed at Edwards AFB on 5/12/70.
B-377PG Pregnant Guppy 1962 = Four 3500hp P&W; R-4360 Wasp Major; span: 141'3" length: 127'0" v: 240/x/x; ff: 9/19/62. Jack Conroy. Ex-airline Boeing 377 modified by stretching the fuselage 16'8" and adding a huge, new upper fuselage lobe for outsize cargo. Capable of carrying 34,000# of cargo. Aircraft was loaded by removing the tail section just aft of the wing trailing edge. Used extensively in support of NASA space program. POP: 1 [N1024V].
Super Guppy SG [N1038V] (Dan Eckland)
B-377SG Super Guppy aka Guppy-201 1965 = Four 5700hp P&W; T34-P-7WA turboprops; span: 156'3" length: 141'2"; ff: 8/31/65. Ex-USAF YC-97J modified by adding wing root plug, stretching fuselage 30'10", and adding huge new upper fuselage lobe with interior radius of 25'. Nose of fuselage pivoted to allow cargo loading. Used extensively in support of NASA space program, it was the only aircraft capable of carrying the third stage of the Saturn V launch vehicle and the Lunar Module adaptor. POP: 1 [N1038V]. Displayed at Pima County Air Museum, Tucson AZ.
Guppy-101 1970 = Rebuilt from Boeing Stratocruiser with four 4900hp Allison 501-D22C turboprops; ff: 3/13/70. First with the opening nose section.
Guppy-201 SEE B377SGT.
Aero Sport
Aero Sport Aviation Co, Santa Paula CA.
Aero Sport S-2 [X14202] (Clark Scott)
S-1 1934 = 1pOB; 37hp Continental. J S Marrott (maybe). No specs found for this mini-biplane. [X14202] c/n 2. Very possibly related to the Andercraft built in 1933 by Fletcher & Sartain Co in Santa Paula.
Aerosport
1970: Aerosport Inc (fdr: Harris L Woods), Holly Springs NC.
Rail 1970 = 1pOlwM; two Aerosport-Rockwell JLO LB-600/2 pushers; span: 23'4" length: 15'9" load: 272# v: 96/66/45 range: 120 ceiling: 12,000'; ff: 11/4/70 [N4334]. An essential design, hardly more than a winged rail, as its name suggests. T-tail, tri-gear; pilot out in the open in front.
Quail 1971 = 1pChwM; VW 1500-1800 cc; span: 24'0" length: 15'11" load: 258# v: 130/110/48 range: 230 ceiling: 12,000'; ff: 12/?/71 [N88760].
Scamp A 1973 = 1pOB; 60hp VW 1600-2100 cc; span: 17'6" length: 16'8" load: 238# v: x/90/42; ff: 8/27/73. R D Fehlner, E B Trent, H L Woods. Tricycle gear, T-tail. Marketed plans and kits for home-builders. POP: reportedly 1,050 plan sets sold (no time reference).
Woody Pusher c.1970 = 2pOhwM; 65-75hp Continental pusher; span: 29'0" length: 20'5" load: 520# v: 98/87/45. Marketed plans and kits for home-builders.
Aerostar
Aerostar Aircraft Corp, Couer d'Alene ID, on acquisition of design and production rights to Aero Commander.
700, Super 700 19?? = 4-6pClwM rg; two 350hp Lycoming TI0-540-U2A (Super 700: modified I0-540-SIA5); span: 36'8" length: 34'10" load: 1715# v: 328/282/84 range: 1151 ceiling: 30,000'.
FJ-100 1990 = Business jet. 6-8pCmwM rg; two 1200# Williams FJ33-1 turbofans; v: 460/x/x ceiling (max): 41,000'. Engines pylon-mounted on fuselage.
Aerostar
1970: Butler Aviation, Kerrville TX, acquisition of sales and manufacturing rights to Mooney. June 1971: Ended operations. SEE Mooney.
Executive 1970 - Mooney M20F with 200hp Lycoming IO-360-A1A; span: 35'0" length: 24'11" load: 1100# v: 185/x/62 range: 1147 ceiling: 18,800'. $23,995; no production.
Ranger 1970 - Mooney M20C with 180hp Lycoming O-360-A1D; span: 35'0" length: 24'2" load: 1050# v: 176/x/57 range: 1000 ceiling: 19,500'. $19,995; no production.
Aero-Tech
Aero-Tech (pres: Alvin J Jarvis), Hastings FL.
Boeing F4B-2/P-12C 1978 = 4/5-scale replica. 1pOB; 245hp Jacobs R-755-9; span: 24'0" length: 17'9" load: 570# v: 165/135/63 range: 386; ff: 8/?/78.
Aerotek
INFORMATION NEEDED
No data.
B-1, -1A 19?? (TC A7WE, A8WE) = No data. Possibly re-issued Pitts.
Aero Union
1959: Aero Union Corporation (pres: Dale P Newton), Chico CA.
Conversions of war-surplus aircraft with tank systems for firefighting operation — AF-S2, B-17, C-119, C-130, CH-47, DC-3, DC-4, DC-6, DC-7, HU-16.
Aerovel SEE Miller HM-4
Aetna (Timm-Aetna)
1941: Wally Timm Co Inc, Glendale CA. 1941: Aetna Aircraft Corp, Los Angeles CA.
Aetna Aerocraft 2SA (Ron Dupas coll)
Aerocraft 2SA 1940 (ATC 733) = 2pOlwM; 160hp Kinner R-5; span: 34'6" length: 24'6" load: 614# v: 125/110/45 range: 400. Available with 175hp R-5. POP: 6. Tandem cockpits, but the prototype was modified from a side-by-side Kinner B-2 [NC14200]. Later versions known as Aetna 2SA. SEE Timm 160.
A G A SEE Pitcairn-Larsen
Aggergaard
Arthur & Peter Aggergaard, Viborg SD.
A-1 1931 = 3pOM; 180hp Hisso E. Arthur Aggergaard. [587W] c/n 100; ff: 5/18/31. Built from parts supplied by Nicholas-Beazley Co at Marshall MO. Reg cancelled 2/1/33.
Agronemair SEE Emair
Ahrens
Ralph Ahrens, Tacoma WA.
A 1934 = 2pOMF; 40hp Ford A. [12778] c/n 2.
Ahrens
c.1968: Ahrens Aircraft Corp, Oxnard CA. c.1977: Ahrens Aircraft Inc, Ramey, Puerto Rico (planned, but likely not implemented as financial backing failed). SEE Bromon.
AH 404 1976 = 31pChwM rg; four 420hp GMC-Allison 250-B17B; span: 65'0" length: 48'4" load: 9400# v: 210/160/x range: 1380; ff: 12/1/76 (p: Herman "Fish" Salmon). POP: 2 [N404AR, N1028G].
A I L
Aeronautical Industries of Louisiana, Monroe LA.
B-3-A 1934 = 1pOM; 41hp Church. [22Y] c/n 353.
Express 1932 = 3pOM; Hisso. [11926] c/n 372.
Air & Space
1964: Air & Space Mfg Inc, Muncie IN. 1966: Bankruptcy. c.1985: Air & Space America Inc as subsidiary of Farrington Aircraft Inc, Paducah KY
Air & Space 18A
18, 18A Heliplane 1996 (TC 1H17) = 2pC hybrid helicopter and autogyro; Lycoming O-320 pusher; v: 75/60/30. Triple tails. POP: 68 Umbaugh 18A produced through 1965, but doors closed in 1966. Extent of production after refinancing and restructing by Farrington unknown.
Air Associates SEE Nicholas-Beazley
Air Boss
ALSO SEE Messer
Southern Aircraft Corp, Birmingham AL.
Air Boss (Aviation Heritage coll)
1928 = 2pOB; various 90-180hp motors; span: 32'5" length: 23'3" load: 850# v: 110/90/30 range: 700 (data for 90hp). Glenn Messer. POP: about 12; [715K] (Wright R-975), [876Y] (OXX-6), [883Y] (Siemens), [884Y] (Hisso E), [9410] (OX-5), et al.
Air Capital, Aircapital
1929: Aircraft Inc (consortium of Wichita and St Paul businessmen), Wichita KS; aka Air Capital Mfg Co.
Watkins SL-1 [X470E] (Paul Davis)
1929 = 2pOlwM; 60hp LeBlond 5D; span: 37'0" length: 23'6" load: 480# v(with 30hp motor): x/75/35. W C "Chet" Cummings. $2,750; POP: 1 reportedly built as a marketing test project. The title implies more of a funding organization than a factory, and is in all likelihood Watkins Skylark.
Airco
Aircraft Corp of America, New York NY; to be manufactured by Sikorsky Co for a consortium of NYC financiers and businessmen, including heads of May Co, Allied Chemical, and Gotham Hosiery.
1926 - Included for interest value only. Despite prominent advertising, there is no record of this consortium's aircraft being produced, and the ads, along with attendant press releases about the Super Rhône-powered Airco Amphibian and Airco Super-Sport, soon faded from aviation publications. No connection with British Airco-de Havilland.
Air Command
Air Command Mfr Corp Co, no location.
Commander 19?? = 1-2pCH. No data.
AirCoupe
AirCoupe Div, Air Products Co Ltd, Carlsbad NM (Took over Forney Industries in Aug 1960). 1963: Acquired by Alon inc (KS).
F-1A c.1961 = Continuance of Forney Aircoupe F-1A. POP: c.30 by Forney and AirCoupe. SEE Alon.
Air-Craft
1931: Air-Craft Corp of America, Portland IN, as a refinancing of Welch Aviation Co. 1936: Welch Aircraft Industries Inc, South Bend IN.
Falcon 1932 = 2pChwM; 42hp two-cyl Air-Craft (Welch); span: 26'0" length: 20'6". 995,995, 995,1,150 with Continental A-40; POP: 1*. Orin Welch was undoubtedly the designer (and likely a principal), for the plane featured on a full-page Air-Craft Corp ad in Jan 1932 Popular Aviation bore the tail number of [11382] c/n 107, which was the first of the later Welch OW-5M batch. * Possibly [13500] c/n 108 was initially manufactured under this parent name, as well. Another interesting path leads to the Jackson B-2 (qv).
Aircraft Associates
Aircraft Associates Inc, Long Beach CA.
J-2 Cub aka Western Cub 1936 (ATC 620) = 2pChwM; 40hp Continental A-40; span: 35'3" length: 22'5" load: 407# v: 87/80/35 range: 210. $1,270; POP: perhaps 10 to 20. Company, a principal distributor, began producing Taylor J-2 under a subcontract for Taylor Co after their disastrous Bradford PA plant fire in Mar 1937.
Aircraft Builders
Aircraft Builders Co (pres: John Dalchow Jr, Gen Mgr: Fred Butterworth), Coldwater MI.
Parrot 1930 - 2pCM; Velie M-5 (>Anzani). [11132] c/n 100; dismantled and reg cancelled 5/19/31.
Aircraft Builders (WA) SEE Adcox
Aircraft Builders Club
Aircraft Builders Club, Lakewood (Cleveland) OH.
1930 - 2pOB; Detroit Aircat. Byron Goodes Cook, mechanics class instructor at Independence High School in Cleveland, under whose guidance the plane was built by students. [NC10558] c/n 1. Cook was also involved with Sundorph Aeronautical.
Aircraft Development Corp SEE Vultee
Aircraft Engineering SEE ACE
Aircraft Engineers
1930: Aircraft Engineers Inc (fdr: Charles Laird), 1926 or 2012 S Wabash Ave (Greer College), Chicago IL.
B-2 1930 = OB; Lambert R-266 engine; no other data found. POP: 1 [10285] c/n 2. Reg cancelled 11/21/32. ALSO SEE (Charles) Laird and Bryan-Laird.
Aircraft Industries SEE Sierra
Aircraft Manufacturing Co
1949: Aircraft Mfg Co, (possibly Ft Worth) TX. 1951: Ended operations.
INFORMATION NEEDED
Texas Bullet 1949 - Production of Johnson Bullet. No data.
Aircraft Mechanics SEE Alexander
Aircraft Mechanics Association SEE A M A
Aircraft Research
Location unknown.
BT-11 1940 - Plastic and plywood design to mock-up stage; none built.
Aircraft Specialties
Aircraft Specialties Co, Saugus CA.
Beta Bird 19?? = 1pOhwM; VW 1200-1600cc pusher; span: 25'6" load: 225#. Robert W Hovey. Marketed plans and kits. POP: ??.
Wing Ding 19?? = 1pOB; 12-15hp pusher; span: 16'4" load: 188# v: x/45/26. Marketed plans and kits. POP: ??.
Air Crane
No location.
19?? (A33SO) = Civil conversion of Grumman HU-16A, -16B, -16C (UF-1, UF-1G), -16D (UF-2), -16E (UF-2G).
Aire-Kraft
Aire-Kraft Co, Washington PA.
OHS-111 1929 = 2pChwM; 55hp Velie M-5, also Warner Scarab. Very likely this is the Cabin-Aire monoplane that the company exhibited in Chicago in 1928. "OHS" designation was for company treasurer O H Snyder. [X7950].
Airgo
Airgo Mfg Co (J Henley), Guthrie OK.
A-1 1926 = 3pOB; 90hp Curtiss OX-5; span: span: 30'0" length: 24'0". [7291] c/n 1 registered on 4/7/28 to "Holmes," then on 8/25/28 to "Moore," both of Hennessey OK. Reg expired 3/28/30.
INFORMATION NEEDED
B 1929 = Unknown type; 90hp Curtiss OX-5. [4633] c/n 2 was registered on 1/26/29 to "Robinson & McKee" of Marshall MO, then on 6/14/30 to "Laier" of Kansas City MO.
Air Investors
Air Investors as a holding group.
(Data: March 1930)
The Aircraft Engine Corp
Comet Engine Co
Scenic Airways
United Aviation Corp
Wyoming Airways
Air-istocrat
United States Aircraft Corp, 76 Nelson St, New Brunswick NJ.
Air-istocrat SP-7 [291M]
SP-7 1929 = 2pOhwM; 100hp Kinner K-5; span: 28'3" length: 20'0" load: 550# v: 122/102/38 range: 600. Leo Mohme, based on his own 1928 aircraft (qv). Plywood-covered parasol wing and forward fuselage. $3,945; POP: at least 7 [X217H (prototype), 291M, X336V, X402E, X870H (65hp Velie M-5), X10079, x].
Air-istocrat SR-4 [283V] (Gene Palmer coll)
SR-4 1929 = 1pOlwM; 110hp Warner Scarab; span: 24'0" v: 158/140/55 range: 500. Gee Bee look-alike with panted wheels. $9,500; POP: 1, built for Willard van Buren King to compete in the 1930 Miami All-American Air Meet [283V].
Air-istocrat SR-5 [NR860W] (Frank Rezich coll)
SR-5 1929 = 1pOlwM; 95hp Cirrus. Cirrus Derby entry [NR860W].
Air King SEE NAS
Air Leader
Air Leader Airplane Co, Floral Park NY.
c.1926 = 3pOhwM; 90hp Curtiss OX-5. Surplus Curtiss JN-4D rebuilt as a parasol monoplane [X3742].
Airline
1921: Airline Transportation Co (fdr: L E Hardy), Los Angeles CA.
Arrow 1922 = 8pCB; 300hp Hall-Scott(?); v: 100/x/x. Transport ship, a major modification of a Standard J-1 by (John W) Rogers Aircraft Co, Los Angeles, for this aspiring LA-Imperial Valley airline proved unsatisfactory. It and the fledgling company flew into obscurity.
Airmaster
1980: Airmaster Inc (pres: Lawrence Matanski), Renton WA.
Avalon 680 1983 = 6-7pChwMAm; two 750hp PT6A-135 turboprops; span: 39'0" length: 32'0" load: 1900# v: 250/200/65 range: 1448; ff: 10/?/83. Also planned Twin Star 1000 and military Guardian, none of which was produced as flyable.
Air Roamer
George Maves & Jimmie Watkins, Clover Field, Santa Monica CA.
1928 = 3pOM; 180hp Hisso E; v: 135/x/40. Built from plans supplied by Fokker Co in Germany.
Air-Row
American Aircraft Corp, Chicago IL.
Arrow B-7 1928 = 2pOB; 90hp Curtiss OX-5. $2,780; POP: 1 [NC813].
Air Tractor
1978: Air Tractor Inc (pres: Leland Snow), Olney TX.
AT-301/301A/301B 1973, 1978-87 = 1pClwM; 600hp P&W; R-1340; based on Snow S-2.
AT-302/302A Turbo 1977 = 1pClwM; Lycoming LTP101-600A.
AT-400/400A Turbo 19?? = 550-680shp P&W; PT6.
AT-401 1986 = 600hp P&W; R-1340.
AT-401A 1991 = PZL-3S.
AT-402 Turbo 1988 = 680shp P&W; PT6; ff: 8/?/88.
AT-501 1984 = 600hp P&W; R-1340.
Air Tractor AT-502 [N4531K]
AT-502 Turbo 1987 = 680shp P&W; PT6; ff: 4/?/87; [N4531K].
AT-502A 1992 = 1100shp P&W; PT6-45R; ff: 2/?/92.
AT-503 1986 = 2pClwM; 1100shp P&W; PT6-45R; ff: 4/25/86. POP: 1.
AT-503A 1990 = 2pClwM; 750shp PT6A-34; [N503CP].
AT-802 1990 = 2pClwM; 1100shp P&W; PT6-45R; ff: 10/30/90 [N802LS].
AT-802A 1992 = 1pClwM; ff: 7/6/92 [N1546H].
AT-802AF 19?? = PT6A-67AF.
Air Transport SEE General-Western
Air Transportion SEE Airline
AirUtility
AirUtility Cargo Co, North Sacramento CA.
AirUtility AU-18 [N68819] (Aircraft of the World)
AU-18 1949 = 1pOmwM; two 75hp Continental C-75; span: 39'11" length: 21'11" load: 797# v: 125/x/x; ff: 4/18/49. Elsworth Gardenhire. Twin-boom, twin-tail fuselages with pilot's pod atop the wing midsection; detachable lower portion as a cargo pod. POP: 1 [N68819]; retired after its final flight in 1958. Modifications led to 1954 designation as AU-18-150B, as well as experimental AU-27 with 130hp Lycoming O-290, a ground-support plane for military trials (span: 48'6" length: 28'3").
Airwings
Airwings Inc, New Brunswick, NJ.
Airwings X 1934 = 2pOM; 90hp LeBlond. [14382].
Airworthy
Airworthy Airplane Co (George Antolchick & Frederick H Jolly), Chicago IL.
Terrier 1928 = 3pCM; three motorcycle engines. "Semi-bat wing." POP: 1 [X88E] c/n 1-T. Letter from Jolly to CAA 11/15/28 cancelled the license "since the plane never has been finished."
A J I
1951: American Jet Industries Inc (pres: Allen E Paulson), Van Nuys CA; conversions of cargo aircraft. 1978: Acquired Gulfstream from Grumman-American as Gulfstream American Corp (qv).
Hustler 500 1978 = ff: 1/11/78. Became Gulfstream American Hustler.
AJI T-610 [N7754A] (Avn Week via Ron Dupas)
T-610 1968 = Temco TT-1 modified with 2950# GE CJ610-6 turbojet. POP: 1 [N7754A].
Turbo Star 1961 = Conversions of Cessna 402 and 411 to 400hp Allison 250-B17 turboprops.
Akerman
John D Akerman, Minneapolis MN; Northland Aviation Co.
JDA-8 1931 = 2pOhwM; 45hp Szekely pusher; v: 45/x/x. Side-by-side cockpit; braced, single-boom empennage, tricycle gear. POP: 1 [X897K]. Akerman, professor of aero engineering at Univ of Minnesota, was also partly responsible for the designs of some Mohawk aircraft.
Akerman Tailless [NX14880] (Air Trails)
Tailless 1936 = 1pOM. Built as a student project, the flying-wing design with elevons and wing-tip rudders made only one flight [X14880].
Akers
Akers Aircraft, Chicago IL.
INFORMATION NEEDED
A-1 c.1930 = No data; Hisso A. [373V] c/n A-1.
Akin
Earl T Akin, Breckenridge TX.
AA c.1935 = No data. One of the overlooked pioneers of American aviation, Akin was reportedly experimenting with manned flight about the same time as the Wright brothers, but his early flights were in gliders. John M Jarratt's view on this: The AA was Akin's one-place design, but only a brief paragraph was found. He designed and built gliders, and was one of the first to be towed to altitude by a plane. He also made a record-breaking flight from NYC to Washington DC [glider or plane?] and constructed several powered aircraft. He built a 2pCmwM called the Buckaroo with deep-chord, tapered wings, and a photo I saw looked to be in the 1930s judging from cars in the backround and clothing styles. No number on it as proof, but I believe that plane must be [11936]. (-- K O Eckland)
Akins
Rick Akins, location unknown.
Stinger c.1990 = 1pCmwM; 100hp Continental O-200; span: 17'5" length: 16'0". Based on T-tail Cassutt. Fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage, plywood-skinned wooden wing. [N7XR].
Akron-Funk SEE Funk
"It is just as silly to water-cool an airplane engine as it would be to air-cool a motorboat with all that water about." — William B Stout, in a letter to the Aircraft Board, 1917
