St. Louis Aircraft Corporation
Encyclopedia
St. Louis Aircraft Corporation was a American aircraft manufacturer founded in September 1917.
In 1915, the St. Louis Car Company
had been approached by Thomas W. Benoist
to build 1000 flying boats in 1915. A prototype was built, but the concept did not into production.
In 1917 The United States government needed to form a production interest for World War I
aircraft production needs. The St. Louis Aircraft Corporation was founded by A.J. Seigel of the Hutting Sash and Door company, and Edwin B Messner of the St. Louis Car Company. Their two companies had skilled labor and facilities needed to construct wood framed aircraft. The company became on of six across the country to produce the Curtiss JN-4D Jenny
with first deliveries in 1918. The first order (720552) was for 200 aircraft, the company delivered 30 aircraft a month, and 57 JN-4D's in October 1918.
The company went dormant until 1928 when it started production of the Cardinal and later the Cardinal Senior. The company ordered 100 100 hp Kinner K-T radial engines to power the light monoplane, but production ceased in 1931 in the peak of the depression.
The company continued to build parts while aircraft production was not viable. It specialized in supplying components for the Engineering section at Wright Field. In the buildup to WWII, the company developed its own low winged trainer to compete in an Army contract, the St. Louis PT-LM-4. It lost out to the Fairchild PT-19
model.
The company was put into service again for World War II
production. The company subcontracted aircraft parts for the effort and built 44 Fairchild PT-19 and 306 PT-23 licensed aircraft designs. It also was one of 8 companies that competed for a combat troop glider. Its XCG-5 did not go into production.
In 1945, the St. Louis Aircraft Corporation was shut down after wartime contracts ended.
In 1915, the St. Louis Car Company
St. Louis Car Company
The St. Louis Car Company was a major United States manufacturer of railroad passenger cars, streetcars, trolleybuses and locomotives that existed from 1887–1973, based in St. Louis, Missouri.-History:...
had been approached by Thomas W. Benoist
Thomas W. Benoist
Thomas W. Benoist was an American pilot who started the first scheduled aircraft service.- Early life :In 1907 Benoist founded Aeronautic Supply Company with his brother becoming the first aircraft parts distributor. Benoist's first flight was at the Kinloch Park Aero Club field in Kinloch,...
to build 1000 flying boats in 1915. A prototype was built, but the concept did not into production.
In 1917 The United States government needed to form a production interest for World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
aircraft production needs. The St. Louis Aircraft Corporation was founded by A.J. Seigel of the Hutting Sash and Door company, and Edwin B Messner of the St. Louis Car Company. Their two companies had skilled labor and facilities needed to construct wood framed aircraft. The company became on of six across the country to produce the Curtiss JN-4D Jenny
Curtiss 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...
with first deliveries in 1918. The first order (720552) was for 200 aircraft, the company delivered 30 aircraft a month, and 57 JN-4D's in October 1918.
The company went dormant until 1928 when it started production of the Cardinal and later the Cardinal Senior. The company ordered 100 100 hp Kinner K-T radial engines to power the light monoplane, but production ceased in 1931 in the peak of the depression.
The company continued to build parts while aircraft production was not viable. It specialized in supplying components for the Engineering section at Wright Field. In the buildup to WWII, the company developed its own low winged trainer to compete in an Army contract, the St. Louis PT-LM-4. It lost out to the Fairchild PT-19
Fairchild PT-19
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4....
model.
The company was put into service again for 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...
production. The company subcontracted aircraft parts for the effort and built 44 Fairchild PT-19 and 306 PT-23 licensed aircraft designs. It also was one of 8 companies that competed for a combat troop glider. Its XCG-5 did not go into production.
In 1945, the St. Louis Aircraft Corporation was shut down after wartime contracts ended.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curtiss JN-4D (license built) Curtiss 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... |
Scout plane | ||
| St. Louis Cardinal | 21 | Sport monoplane | |
| St. Louis YPT-15 St. Louis YPT-15 |- See also :-Bibliography:* Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Aerospace Publishing/Orbis Publishing* *... |
14 | Primary Trainer | |
| St. Louis PT-LM-4 | 1 | Primary Trainer | |
| St Louis CG-5 | 1 | Combat glider | |
| PT-19 (License built) Fairchild PT-19 |-See also:-Bibliography:* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.... |
44 | Primary trainer | |
| PT-23 (License built) | 306 | Primary trainer | |