Winfield Bertrum Kinner
Encyclopedia
Winfield Bertrum "Bert" Kinner (December 16, 1882 – July 4, 1957) was an American
aircraft engine designer and constructor. Kinner founded Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation
in Glendale, California
which produced radial engines and aircraft.
, his mother was born in England
and her maiden name was Lee. Kinner married Cora M. (1887–1982) and they had two children: Winfield Bertrum Kinner II (1911–1993); and Donald W. Kinner (1914–?). Cora was born in Minnesota
and the children were born there.
but had an aspiration to design and build aircraft. He was the manager of Kinner Field
, the first municipally owned airport in Los Angeles, located on the west side of Long Beach Boulevard and Tweedy Road, below Huntington Park. His airfield included a small hangar, 1,200 ft, roughed out runway and one employee, Anita "Neta" Snook
who had recently arrived from Iowa after a season of barnstorming
with her Curtiss JN-4
Canuck in tow.
"Snooky" turned out to be a good hire as she not only chatted up customers, ran the air operation but also served as a mechanic. Kinner hired Snook to test fly his planes and provide flight instruction for a prospective training school. At the "Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation," he began to design his first small, light-plane called the Security S-1 Airster (more commonly known as the Kinner Airster). The tiny biplane was powered by a three-cylinder Lawrence L2 that put out 60 hp.
Kinner Field's most famous student, Amelia Earhart
arrived in December 1920. After taking her first flying lesson with Neta, Earhart bought the prototype Kinner Airster for $2,000 to continue her training. The bright yellow biplane that she immediately christened "The Canary" was underpowered but provided Earhart with valuable flight time. When she wasn't able to raise more than the deposit, Kinner made a deal with her so that the Airster could be on hand as a demonstration aircraft in exchange for upkeep and hangar fees.
Earhart soloed in the Kinner and after Neta left Kinner field to get married, Earhart stayed on and continued flying. In October 1922, the Kinner Airster was used to set a world high altitude record of 14,000 ft for women pilots, the first of the many records set by Earhart.
Due to a change in the family fortunes, Earhart was forced to sell "The Canary" but later put together enough money to purchase a second Airster. Kinner continued to design and build a limited series of light planes were produced; the Kinner series of engines powered aircraft from the late 1920s to the early 1930s. The earliest Kinner engines had three cylinders modeled after the French Anzani. Later they developed a line of five cylinder engines. The airplane business ended in the mid-1930s, but the engines were produced through World War II
. The last series of Kinner engines powered PT-22 trainers.
He died in 1957 in California
and was buried in the Portal of Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation with other aviation pioneers.
His interment was located at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aircraft engine designer and constructor. Kinner founded Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation
Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation
Kinner Airplane & Motor Corp was an airplane and engine manufacturer, founded in Glendale, California by Bert Kinner in the mid-1920s. It went bankrupt in 1937 and the aircraft rights were sold to Timm Aircraft Co...
in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
which produced radial engines and aircraft.
Early life
Bert Kinner was born on December 16, 1882 in Iowa. His father was from New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, his mother was born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and her maiden name was Lee. Kinner married Cora M. (1887–1982) and they had two children: Winfield Bertrum Kinner II (1911–1993); and Donald W. Kinner (1914–?). Cora was born in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
and the children were born there.
Aviation career
In 1920, Kinner was working as an aircraft engineer in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
but had an aspiration to design and build aircraft. He was the manager of Kinner Field
Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation
Kinner Airplane & Motor Corp was an airplane and engine manufacturer, founded in Glendale, California by Bert Kinner in the mid-1920s. It went bankrupt in 1937 and the aircraft rights were sold to Timm Aircraft Co...
, the first municipally owned airport in Los Angeles, located on the west side of Long Beach Boulevard and Tweedy Road, below Huntington Park. His airfield included a small hangar, 1,200 ft, roughed out runway and one employee, Anita "Neta" Snook
Neta Snook
Neta Snook Southern , was a pioneer aviator who achieved a long list of firsts. She was the first woman aviator in Iowa, first woman student accepted at the Curtiss Flying School in Virginia, first woman "aviatrix" to run her own aviation business and first woman to run a commercial airfield...
who had recently arrived from Iowa after a season of barnstorming
Barnstorming
Barnstorming was a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s in which stunt pilots would perform tricks with airplanes, either individually or in groups called a flying circus. Barnstorming was the first major form of civil aviation in the history of flight...
with her Curtiss JN-4
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...
Canuck in tow.
"Snooky" turned out to be a good hire as she not only chatted up customers, ran the air operation but also served as a mechanic. Kinner hired Snook to test fly his planes and provide flight instruction for a prospective training school. At the "Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation," he began to design his first small, light-plane called the Security S-1 Airster (more commonly known as the Kinner Airster). The tiny biplane was powered by a three-cylinder Lawrence L2 that put out 60 hp.
Kinner Field's most famous student, Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
arrived in December 1920. After taking her first flying lesson with Neta, Earhart bought the prototype Kinner Airster for $2,000 to continue her training. The bright yellow biplane that she immediately christened "The Canary" was underpowered but provided Earhart with valuable flight time. When she wasn't able to raise more than the deposit, Kinner made a deal with her so that the Airster could be on hand as a demonstration aircraft in exchange for upkeep and hangar fees.
Earhart soloed in the Kinner and after Neta left Kinner field to get married, Earhart stayed on and continued flying. In October 1922, the Kinner Airster was used to set a world high altitude record of 14,000 ft for women pilots, the first of the many records set by Earhart.
Due to a change in the family fortunes, Earhart was forced to sell "The Canary" but later put together enough money to purchase a second Airster. Kinner continued to design and build a limited series of light planes were produced; the Kinner series of engines powered aircraft from the late 1920s to the early 1930s. The earliest Kinner engines had three cylinders modeled after the French Anzani. Later they developed a line of five cylinder engines. The airplane business ended in the mid-1930s, but the engines were produced through 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...
. The last series of Kinner engines powered PT-22 trainers.
Later years and death
In the 1930s, Kinner was the owner of Security National Aircraft Corporation at Downey Field, now Downey Studios.He died in 1957 in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was buried in the Portal of Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation with other aviation pioneers.
His interment was located at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 10621 Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood, California.The cemetery has a special section called the Portal of the Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation that is the final resting place for a number of aviation pioneers — barnstormers, daredevils and...
.