Porterfield Aircraft Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Porterfield Aircraft Corporation was an American
aircraft design and manufacturing company founded in 1934 in Kansas
by Edward E. Porterfield.
and Lincoln Standard biplane
trainers, and felt the need for a more suitable and better-performing trainer aircraft. He consulted with several aeronautical engineers of the period, including Giuseppe Mario Bellanca
, and soon launched the production of several light single-engine two-seat high-wing and biplane aircraft. Then, in 1925, he started the American Eagle Aircraft Corporation
.
Late in 1929, the worldwide stock market crash severely depressed the sale of non-essential items such as sport airplanes, although American Eagle continued producing airplanes until 1931. Early in that year, Porterfield's company declared bankruptcy
and halted production. On 15 May 1931, the company's assets were purchased by the Lincoln-Page Aircraft Company of Lincoln, Nebraska
, and Porterfield assumed the title of aircraft sales representative of that company, which became known as the American Eagle-Lincoln Aircraft Corporation, with production headquarters in Lincoln.
Porterfield left the company in 1932, forming then the Porterfield Aircraft Company. It never achieved the numerical success of the larger light aircraft manufacturers such as Piper Aircraft, Aeronca and Taylorcraft, though the planes were well made and popular with pilots. With the start of World War II
, however, light aircraft production for civilian use came to a stop. Bigger companies took great benefit from military contracts but Porterfield, with no large military orders forthcoming, quietly faded away.
Edward Porterfield died from a heart attack in 1948.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aircraft design and manufacturing company founded in 1934 in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
by Edward E. Porterfield.
History
Edward Porterfield was running a flying school at the Fairfax Airport outside Kansas City. He had been operating JenniesCurtiss JN-4
The Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" was one of a series of "JN" biplanes built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of Hammondsport, New York, later the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. Although the Curtiss JN series was originally produced as a training aircraft for the U.S...
and Lincoln Standard biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
trainers, and felt the need for a more suitable and better-performing trainer aircraft. He consulted with several aeronautical engineers of the period, including Giuseppe Mario Bellanca
Giuseppe Mario Bellanca
Giuseppe Mario Bellanca was an Italian-American airplane designer and builder who created the first enclosed cabin monoplane in the United States in 1922. This aircraft is now on display at the National Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.-Biography:He was born on March 19, 1886 in...
, and soon launched the production of several light single-engine two-seat high-wing and biplane aircraft. Then, in 1925, he started the American Eagle Aircraft Corporation
American Eagle Aircraft Corporation
The American Eagle Aircraft Corporation was an American aircraft design and manufacturing company which existed briefly in Kansas, but which was a victim of the Great Depression, after building some 500 light airplanes, many of which were the Model A-129, a design attributed to noted aviation...
.
Late in 1929, the worldwide stock market crash severely depressed the sale of non-essential items such as sport airplanes, although American Eagle continued producing airplanes until 1931. Early in that year, Porterfield's company declared bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and halted production. On 15 May 1931, the company's assets were purchased by the Lincoln-Page Aircraft Company of Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, and Porterfield assumed the title of aircraft sales representative of that company, which became known as the American Eagle-Lincoln Aircraft Corporation, with production headquarters in Lincoln.
Porterfield left the company in 1932, forming then the Porterfield Aircraft Company. It never achieved the numerical success of the larger light aircraft manufacturers such as Piper Aircraft, Aeronca and Taylorcraft, though the planes were well made and popular with pilots. With the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, however, light aircraft production for civilian use came to a stop. Bigger companies took great benefit from military contracts but Porterfield, with no large military orders forthcoming, quietly faded away.
Edward Porterfield died from a heart attack in 1948.