Culver Aircraft Company
Encyclopedia
The Culver Aircraft Company was an American aircraft manufacturer of light aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s.
, by Monocoupe dealer Knight K. Culver and Al Mooney to purchase the rights to the Mooney-designed Monosport G from the defunct Lambert Aircraft Corporation. The company was renamed to The Culver Aircraft Company in 1939. In December 1939, Culver produced the Culver Model L, later renaming it to the Culver Cadet
. Production was supervised by Al's brother, Art Mooney
.
Having moved from Columbus to Wichita, Kansas
, after producing 50 aircraft, two retractable-gear models, the LFA and LCA, were introduced, and in 1941 the company was taken over by Walter Beech (founder of Beechcraft
) and Charles Yankey. The company switched to subcontract work during World War II
. Culver produced a radio-controlled pilotless aircraft based on the LFA for use as target drones. Over 3000 PQ-8/TDC
and PQ-14/TD2C gunnery target drone
s were produced for the USAAF and USN.
In 1945, Culver developed the Model V
. The V, also known as the M-17, featured a patented flight control system, known as Simpli-Fly Control, which automated a number of flight functions; the system was looked down upon by pilots, and the Model V was not considered a success. The Model V was developed into the XPQ-15 drone, but did not win production orders; not very long after the end of World War II, Culver Aircraft entered bankruptcy, the Mooney brothers departing to form the Mooney Aircraft Company and the manufacturing plant was purchased by the Coleman Company
. In 1956, the Superior Aircraft Company was established, purchasing the assets of the Culver Aircraft Company, and put the Model V back into production as the Superior Satellite.
History
The Dart Manufacturing Corporation was founded in Columbus, OhioColumbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, by Monocoupe dealer Knight K. Culver and Al Mooney to purchase the rights to the Mooney-designed Monosport G from the defunct Lambert Aircraft Corporation. The company was renamed to The Culver Aircraft Company in 1939. In December 1939, Culver produced the Culver Model L, later renaming it to the Culver Cadet
Culver Cadet
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B...
. Production was supervised by Al's brother, Art Mooney
Art Mooney
Art Mooney was an American popular bandleader. His biggest hits were "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover" and "Baby Face" in 1948 and "Nuttin' For Christmas," with Barry Gordon, in 1955...
.
Having moved from Columbus to Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, after producing 50 aircraft, two retractable-gear models, the LFA and LCA, were introduced, and in 1941 the company was taken over by Walter Beech (founder of Beechcraft
Beechcraft
Beechcraft is an American manufacturer of general aviation and military aircraft, ranging from light single engine aircraft to business jets and light military transports. Previously a division of Raytheon, it has been a brand of Hawker Beechcraft since 2006....
) and Charles Yankey. The company switched to subcontract work during 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...
. Culver produced a radio-controlled pilotless aircraft based on the LFA for use as target drones. Over 3000 PQ-8/TDC
Culver Cadet
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B...
and PQ-14/TD2C gunnery target drone
Target drone
A target drone is an unmanned, remote controlled aerial vehicle, usually used in the training of anti-aircraft crews.In their simplest form, target drones often resemble radio controlled model aircraft...
s were produced for the USAAF and USN.
In 1945, Culver developed the Model V
Culver Model V
-External links:* * large pull out color photo...
. The V, also known as the M-17, featured a patented flight control system, known as Simpli-Fly Control, which automated a number of flight functions; the system was looked down upon by pilots, and the Model V was not considered a success. The Model V was developed into the XPQ-15 drone, but did not win production orders; not very long after the end of World War II, Culver Aircraft entered bankruptcy, the Mooney brothers departing to form the Mooney Aircraft Company and the manufacturing plant was purchased by the Coleman Company
Coleman Company
Coleman Company, Inc., is an American company that specializes in outdoor recreation products. Historically, Coleman is known for camping gear....
. In 1956, the Superior Aircraft Company was established, purchasing the assets of the Culver Aircraft Company, and put the Model V back into production as the Superior Satellite.
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dart G | 50 | ||
| Dart GC | 10 | ||
| Dart GK | 25 | ||
| Dart GW | 8 | ||
| Dart GW Special | 2 | ||
| Cadet LCA Culver Cadet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B... |
|||
| Cadet LFA Culver Cadet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B... |
|||
| Cadet LFA-90 Culver Cadet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B... |
|||
| LAR (Army A-8) Culver Cadet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B... |
Redesignated as PQ-8 | ||
| LAR-90 (Army PQ-8) Culver Cadet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B... |
200 | ||
| PQ-8A Culver Cadet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B... |
200 | ||
| Q-8A Culver Cadet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B... |
Redesignated PQ-8s. | ||
| TDC-1 Culver Cadet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B... |
1 | ||
| TDC-2 Culver Cadet -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft . London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.* Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II . London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.* Mormillo, Frank B... |
201 | ||
| XPQ-14 | 1 | Converted PQ-8 | |
| PQ-14A/TD2C Turkey | 1400 | ||
| PQ-14B | 1100 | ||
| XPQ-14C | 1 | Converted PQ-14B | |
| Q-14 | Redesignated PQ-14s | ||
| Culver Model V Culver Model V -External links:* * large pull out color photo... |
90 | ||
External links
- "Culver Model V", August 1946, Popular Science large pull out color photo