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Aeronca's pioneering aircraft


Aeronca History: Founded in 1928 as the Aeronautical Corporation of America, Aeronca was the first U.S. company to market a truly light airplane. The C-2 aircraft opened up flying to the general public and made the corporation a major force in general aviation. Changing its name to Aeronca in 1941, it served in World War II as the producer of the Aeronca Grasshopper, a light liaison and observation monoplane. The Company also manufactured hundreds of trainers and gliders for the war effort. The Post-War era saw the release of popular aircraft from Aeronca: the Champ, the Chief and Super Chief; the Defender, and the Arrow, a low-wing cabin monoplane with retractable landing gear. From 1945 to 1950, Aeronca built thousands of light aircraft, reaching a peak production of 50 aircraft per day. Production of light aircraft ceased in 1951. In the short span of twenty-three years Aeronca manufactured 17,408 airplanes of some 55 different models.

The legacies of Aeronca's pioneering aircraft remain for thousands of vintage aircraft buffs. Biannually, enthusiast and their aircraft gather for the Aeronca Association Convention at the adjacent Hook Field. Millions have also seen the Aeronca C-2 lightplane on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Subsequent to the recession that hit the light aircraft industry in the late 1940's, Aeronca assumed the role of pioneer in the field of brazing and bonding of honeycomb and other heat resistant structures for the aerospace industry. The high temperature brazed honeycomb techniques Aeronca developed won the contract for the Apollo command module and Aeronca manufactured nearly all of the outer structure of the spacecraft. This structure preformed successfully during the reentry to earth of all Apollo missions.

Aeronca Today: Today, Aeronca is a major aerospace sub-contractor for engine/nacelle components, aircraft structures, space structures, and missile control surfaces.

Located near U.S. Interstate 75, midway between Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, Aeronca sits on 39 acres of land adjacent to Hook Field. The plant itself encompasses 450,000 square feet of floor space. Geared to producing complex aerospace structures, Aeronca has CATIA based CAD/CAM equipment used for computerized design and manufacture. The ability to design, test, and certify new components is highly valued by Aeronca's customers.