Rearwin
Encyclopedia
Rearwin Airplanes was a US airplane-manufacturing enterprise founded by Andrew ("Rae") Rearwin in 1928. Rae Rearwin was an American
businessman who had developed several successful business ventures in the Salina, Kansas
area in the early 20th century. Although he had no experience with aircraft
manufacturing (and no pilot training), he felt that he could succeed with his solid business acumen. With his two sons, Ken and Royce, he hired some engineers and built the Ken-Royce in a garage in Salina.
The factory was moved to the Fairfax Airport
in Kansas City, KS
.
The LeBlond Aircraft Engine Corporation
was purchased in 1937 and gave Rearwin a direct source of 5- and 7-cylinder radial engine
s.
Rearwin Airplanes was sold to Commonwealth Aircraft
in 1942, and Commonwealth continued production of the Rearwin-designed Skyranger for one year (through 1946).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who had developed several successful business ventures in the Salina, Kansas
Salina, Kansas
Salina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707. Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas...
area in the early 20th century. Although he had no experience with aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
manufacturing (and no pilot training), he felt that he could succeed with his solid business acumen. With his two sons, Ken and Royce, he hired some engineers and built the Ken-Royce in a garage in Salina.
The factory was moved to the Fairfax Airport
Fairfax Airport
Fairfax Airport was an airport in Kansas City, Kansas from 1921 until it closed in 1985. It is most famously associated with the construction of most of the B-25 Mitchell bombers....
in Kansas City, KS
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
.
The LeBlond Aircraft Engine Corporation
Makino
Makino is a global machine tool manufacturer.-History:Makino was established in 1937 by Tsunezo Makino in Japan, developing Japan's first numerically controlled milling machine in 1958 and Japan's first machining center in 1966....
was purchased in 1937 and gave Rearwin a direct source of 5- and 7-cylinder radial engine
Radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel...
s.
Rearwin Airplanes was sold to Commonwealth Aircraft
Commonwealth Aircraft
Commonwealth Aircraft was formed in late 1942 on the acquisition of the assets of Rearwin Aircraft & Engines. Commonwealth continued producing the acquired Rearwin designs in the acquired Rearwin facilities in Kansas City, Kansas. In early 1946, Commonwealth took over Columbia Aircraft...
in 1942, and Commonwealth continued production of the Rearwin-designed Skyranger for one year (through 1946).
Ken-Royce
- Named after his two sons (and a play on the Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce LimitedRolls-Royce Limited was a renowned British car and, from 1914 on, aero-engine manufacturing company founded by Charles Stewart Rolls and Henry Royce on 15 March 1906 as the result of a partnership formed in 1904....
name that meant quality products), this 2-seat biplaneBiplaneA 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...
received US ATCType certificateA Type Certificate, is awarded by aviation regulating bodies to aerospace manufacturers after it has been established that the particular design of a civil aircraft, engine, or propeller has fulfilled the regulating bodies' current prevailing airworthiness requirements for the safe conduct of...
number 323 in September 1929. the Ken-Royce was powered by a 170HP Curtiss Challenger radial engine. Only one known example of the type exists today.
Junior
- This small high-wing monoplaneMonoplaneA monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with one main set of wing surfaces, in contrast to a biplane or triplane. Since the late 1930s it has been the most common form for a fixed wing aircraft.-Types of monoplane:...
was designed to be inexpensive and easily approachable. It resembled an American Eaglet and was produced as the model 3000 and model 4000. Only one known example of the type exists today.
Speedster
- Originally designed in 1934, this modern-looking airplane was narrow and impressive looking. However, it was unable to pass the stringent aircraft spin testsSpin (flight)In aviation, a spin is an aggravated stall resulting in autorotation about the spin axis wherein the aircraft follows a corkscrew downward path. Spins can be entered intentionally or unintentionally, from any flight attitude and from practically any airspeed—all that is required is sufficient yaw...
for several years. A young engineer named Bob Rummell was brought in to solve the problem (and did), but the delay to market proved fatal and only about 11 were made, since less expensive models were already available. However, the Speedster remains one of Rearwin's most exciting designs, as demonstrated by the numerous model kits that were produced for the modeling and R/C enthusiasts.
Sportster
- Many Sportsters were exported to South AmericaSouth AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
due to its large 24-gallon (91 liter) fuel capacity. The Siamese (Thai) air force bought several. A Sportster variant called the GV-38 was produced by the GotaverkenKværnerKværner was a Norway-based engineering and construction services company in existence between 1853 and 2005 when it was merged with Aker ASA. The Kværner name was used in the subsidiary Aker Kværner until April 3, 2008 when it changed name to Aker Solutions. Kværner re-emerged on 6...
Shipyard in SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1938. As many as 15 may have been built, with 4 known to still exist in museums in DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Sweden.
Cloudster
- This side-by-side model offered more cabin room than the Speedster and was popular with enthusisasts and as a trainerTrainer (aircraft)A trainer is a class of aircraft designed specifically to facilitate in-flight training of pilots and aircrews. The use of a dedicated trainer aircraft with additional safety features—such as tandem flight controls, forgiving flight characteristics and a simplified cockpit arrangement—allows...
(model 8135T). The trainer was used by the Rearwin flight school and also by TWATwaThe Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
and Pan American Airways. Juan TrippeJuan TrippeJuan Terry Trippe was an American airline entrepreneur and pioneer, and the founder of Pan American World Airways, one of the world's most prominent airlines of the twentieth century.-Early years:...
, founder of PAA, owned a Sportster and later a Cloudster. One of Ken Rearwin's largest sales was 25 Cloudsters to IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
in 1941. Approximately 124 Cloudsters were built.
Skyranger
- The Skyranger was Rearwin's last design. It was popular due to its easy and stable flight characteristics. Serial numbers in the 1500s were built by Rearwin prior to the company's 1942 sale. The serial numbers in the 1600s are Commonwealth SkyrangerCommonwealth SkyrangerThe Commonwealth Skyranger, earlier produced as the Rearwin Skyranger, was the last design of Rearwin Aircraft. It was popular due to its easy and stable flight characteristics.-Design and development:...
s (with many minor modifications but essentially the same airplane).