The Pheasant Aircraft Company
Encyclopedia
The Pheasant Aircraft Company was an American aircraft manufacturer.
In 1927, flight school operator Lee R. Briggs had mobilized Memphis, Missouri
community members to incorporate a company for aircraft production. The first aircraft was a three-seater designed by Orville Hickman. Production peaked at one unit per week. On December 5, 1927 Biggs died in a training accident. Aircraft racer Steve Wittman
took over as chief test pilot. The Pheasant Flight engine was developed in house for the H-10 Aircraft, but only three were built. The H-10 was flown successfully across the country in several events. Wittman and convinced investor Adolf Bechaud to move the company to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
in 1929.
The company was absorbed into Dayton Aero & Engineering Company in 1930.
Red Cherry Airlines started the first private airline in Saskatchewan
with a Pheasant H-10 in 1928, using the aircraft for barnstorming charging passengers by weight for flights. The biplane eventually was sold to the Northern Aero Company flight school after the stock market crash. The airplane crashed in 1932, and was restored over four years in 1964. It now resides in the Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw.
One example of a Pheasant H-10 is owned by the Experimental Aircraft Association
and is on display in the EAA AirVenture Museum
.
A mural of the Pheasant aircraft is painted on the side of the original factory. 040°27′53"N 092°10′17"W
In 1927, flight school operator Lee R. Briggs had mobilized Memphis, Missouri
Memphis, Missouri
Memphis is a city in Scotland County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,822 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Scotland County. Memphis is located southeast of Pulaski, Iowa, north of Baring, east of Lancaster, and west of Kahoka....
community members to incorporate a company for aircraft production. The first aircraft was a three-seater designed by Orville Hickman. Production peaked at one unit per week. On December 5, 1927 Biggs died in a training accident. Aircraft racer Steve Wittman
Steve Wittman
Sylvester Joseph "Steve" Wittman was an air-racer and aircraft designer and builder.Wittman gained his pilot's license in 1924 in a Standard J-1 and built his first aircraft, the Harley powered "Hardly Abelson" later that same year.From 1925 to 1927 he had his own flying service, giving joyrides...
took over as chief test pilot. The Pheasant Flight engine was developed in house for the H-10 Aircraft, but only three were built. The H-10 was flown successfully across the country in several events. Wittman and convinced investor Adolf Bechaud to move the company to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The name is French for bottom of the lake, for it is located at the bottom of Lake Winnebago. The population was 42,203 at the 2000 census...
in 1929.
The company was absorbed into Dayton Aero & Engineering Company in 1930.
Red Cherry Airlines started the first private airline in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
with a Pheasant H-10 in 1928, using the aircraft for barnstorming charging passengers by weight for flights. The biplane eventually was sold to the Northern Aero Company flight school after the stock market crash. The airplane crashed in 1932, and was restored over four years in 1964. It now resides in the Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw.
One example of a Pheasant H-10 is owned by the Experimental Aircraft Association
Experimental Aircraft Association
The Experimental Aircraft Association is an international organization of aviation enthusiasts based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Since its inception it has grown internationally with over 160,000 members and about 1,000 chapters worldwide....
and is on display in the EAA AirVenture Museum
EAA AirVenture Museum
The EAA AirVenture Museum is a museum dedicated to the preservation and display of historical and experimental aircraft located in Oshkosh, Wisconsin adjacent to the Wittman Regional Airport. Paul Poberezny proposed the idea of the EAA Air Museum-Air Education center in August 1958. The current...
.
A mural of the Pheasant aircraft is painted on the side of the original factory. 040°27′53"N 092°10′17"W
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pheasant H-10 | 41 | Biplane | |
| Pheasant Traveller | 3 | Biplane | |