Grover Loening
Encyclopedia
Grover Cleveland Loening (September 12, 1888 – February 29, 1976) was an American
aircraft manufacturer.
in New York City
, where he was awarded the first-ever degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Following graduation, he joined the Queen Aeroplane Company in New York, managed the Wright Company
factory in Dayton, Ohio
for Orville Wright in 1913 and 1914, published a book, Military Airplanes, and became Vice President of the Sturtevant Aeroplane Company. In 1917 he formed the Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation
; after it merged with Keystone Aircraft
in 1928, he formed the Grover Loening Aircraft Company. Loening would test fly his own aircraft. Among his employees were Leroy Grumman
, William T. Schwendler
, and Jake Swirbul
who would go on to form Grumman. The company eventually closed in 1933. During World War II
he was chief consultant to the War Production Board
.
Asked how to say his name, he told The Literary Digest
: "The correct American pronunciation, used by me and universally in aviation, is one that ignores the e or the umlaut suggestion; viz., the low is pronounced as low to rhyme with doe, and accenting the first syllable—lo'ning." (Charles Earle Funk, What's the Name, Please?, Funk & Wagnalls, 1936.)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aircraft manufacturer.
Biography
Loening was born in Bremen, Germany, while his American-born father was stationed there as U.S. Consul. He graduated from Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he was awarded the first-ever degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Following graduation, he joined the Queen Aeroplane Company in New York, managed the Wright Company
Wright Company
The Wright Company was the commercial aviation business venture of the Wright Brothers, established by them in 1909 in conjunction with several prominent industrialists from New York and Detroit with the intention of capitalizing on their invention of the practical airplane. It maintained a...
factory in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
for Orville Wright in 1913 and 1914, published a book, Military Airplanes, and became Vice President of the Sturtevant Aeroplane Company. In 1917 he formed the Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation
Loening Aircraft Engineering
Loening Aeronautical Engineering Corporation was founded 1917 by Grover Loening and produced early aircraft and amphibious aircraft from 1917. When it merged with Keystone Aircraft Corporation in 1928, some of its engineers left to form Grumman...
; after it merged with Keystone Aircraft
Keystone Aircraft
Keystone Aircraft Corporation was an early pioneer in airplane manufacturing. Headquartered in Bristol, Pennsylvania, it was formed as Ogdensburg Aeroway Corp in 1920 by Thomas Huff and Elliot Daland, but its name was quickly changed to Huff-Daland Aero Corp, then to the Huff-Daland Aero Company...
in 1928, he formed the Grover Loening Aircraft Company. Loening would test fly his own aircraft. Among his employees were Leroy Grumman
Leroy Grumman
Leroy Randle "Roy" Grumman was an American aeronautical engineer, test pilot, and industrialist. In 1929, he co-founded Grumman Aeronautical Engineering Co. later to become Grumman Aerospace Corporation, now part of Northrop Grumman.-Early life:Born in Huntington, New York, Grumman's forebears had...
, William T. Schwendler
William T. Schwendler
William T. Schwendler was a founder, chief engineer, executive vice-president and Chairman of the Board of the Grumman Corporation...
, and Jake Swirbul
Jake Swirbul
Leon A. "Jake" "The Bullfrog" Swirbul , was an aviation pioneer and co-founder of Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation....
who would go on to form Grumman. The company eventually closed in 1933. 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...
he was chief consultant to the War Production Board
War Production Board
The War Production Board was established as a government agency on January 16, 1942 by executive order of Franklin D. Roosevelt.The purpose of the board was to regulate the production and allocation of materials and fuel during World War II in the United States...
.
Asked how to say his name, he told The Literary Digest
Literary Digest
The Literary Digest was an influential general interest weekly magazine published by Funk & Wagnalls. Founded by Isaac Kaufmann Funk in 1890, it eventually merged with two similar weekly magazines, Public Opinion and Current Opinion.-History:...
: "The correct American pronunciation, used by me and universally in aviation, is one that ignores the e or the umlaut suggestion; viz., the low is pronounced as low to rhyme with doe, and accenting the first syllable—lo'ning." (Charles Earle Funk, What's the Name, Please?, Funk & Wagnalls, 1936.)