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International Aircraft

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International Aircraft Corporation
FormerlyCatron and Fisk Company
IndustryAerospace
Founded1909 (1909) in California
Founders
  • J.W. Catron
  • Edwin M. Fisk
Headquarters
Ancor, Ohio
,
United States
Key people
  • Arthur Ewald[1]
    (President)
  • Harold A. Speers[2]
    (Vice President)
  • J. Dixon Davis[3]
    (Test Pilot)
  • Raymond D. Harris[4][5]
    (Chief Pilot)
  • C. A. Harrison[6]
    (Assistant Sales Manager)
Number of employees
160[7] (1928)

International Aircraft Corporation was an American 1920s aircraft manufacturer located in Ancor near Newtown, Ohio.

History[edit]

Foundation in California[edit]

The Catron and Fisk Company was founded in California in 1909 by Edwin M. Fisk and J.W. Catron.[8][9] In February 1927, the company was reorganized as the International Aircraft Corporation.[10] However, the corporation was forced to move after its factory in Long Beach was unable to keep up with demand.[11] At the time of its move, the company had 80 airplanes on order, but could only build six a week.[12] The vacated factory building would later be leased by the Courier Aircraft Company.[13]

Move to Ohio[edit]

In 1927, the company was purchased by a group of Cincinnatians, and moved to a former federal government nitrate plant near Newtown, Ohio.[14][15][9] Production commenced even before the factory was formally dedicated on 12 May 1928, with the first airplane rolling out on April 7.[16][1][17][18][19] Later in May, construction was started on a new steel hangar at the site.[20] In August, the company delivered newly completed aircraft by train for the first time.[21][22] The company entered two airplanes in the 1928 National Air Tour.[23][24] By October, it had contracted with the newly created Dawson Aircraft Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the latter to act as a distributor.[25] However, the company rejected a follow-up offer by the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce to move the factory there.[26] By that point aircraft production had ended.[27] A plan proposed in December called for the company to be reorganized as a Delaware corporation owned by a group of investors led by C. B. Morganthaler.[28][29][30]

Move to Michigan[edit]

The company was purchased by interests in Jackson, Michigan in May 1929.[31][32][33] Land was purchased at Reynolds Field and plans were announced for a new 22-passenger trimotor airliner in addition to the company's existing aircraft.[34] However, operations in Cincinnati were resumed in June and planned to continue until the new plant in Michigan was completed.[35]

Following the sale, president Clarence E. Ogden carried out a series of lawsuits concerning the naming of a company receiver and disposition of various company airplanes.[36][37][38][39]

To promote their new company, a women's air endurance record attempt was suggested.[40] To this end, participation from famous aviatrixes Louise Thaden and Blanche Noyes was solicited.[41]

Aircraft[edit]

International F-17 Sportsman
Model name First flight Number built Type
Catron-Fisk CF-10 ~5 or 6 Twin engine transport triplane[42][9]
Catron-Fisk CF-11 2 Single engine utility biplane[43]
Catron-Fisk CF-12 [44]
Catron-Fisk CF-13 1 Single engine utility biplane[43]
Catron-Fisk CF-14 1 Trimotor transport triplane[43]
Catron-Fisk CF-15 Single engine utility biplane[45]
International F-16 Violet 1 Single engine utility biplane[42]
International F-17 Sportsman 20+ Single engine utility biplane
International F-18 Air-Coach 6 Single engine transport biplane
International F-25 Three engine transport[46]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Chamberlin Being Greeted in Cincinnati". Cincinnati Enquirer. 13 May 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Cincinnati Entries are Put through Paces for Air Race Across Continent Wednesday". Cincinnati Enquirer. 31 August 1928. p. 24. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  3. ^ Mueller, Louis D. (22 July 1928). "Aviation Lanes". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 7. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  4. ^ Lunsford, T. E. (October 1928). "Ohio Air News". Aero Digest. p. 798. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Companies Announce Changes in Personnel". Aviation. Vol. 25, no. 10. 1 September 1928. p. 714. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  6. ^ "C. A. Harrison Joins International Staff". Aviation. Vol. 25, no. 5. 4 August 1928. p. 414. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Product of Cincinnati Firm". Cincinnati Post. 5 July 1928. p. 18.
  8. ^ "The International Aircraft Corporation". Cincinnati Enquirer. 20 May 1928. p. 40. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c "February 2014 Mystery Plane: Catron and Fisk C.F. 10". EAA Vintage Aircraft Association. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  10. ^ "A Phenomenal Growth-There Must Be a Reason". Aero Digest. August 1927. p. 199. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Airplane Plant May Land Here". Cincinnati Post. 13 October 1927. p. 2.
  12. ^ "Ancor Airplane Project is Set at $500,000". Cincinnati Post. 15 December 1927. p. 13.
  13. ^ "Briefly". Aviation. 20 April 1929. p. 1339. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Ancor Plant Purchased". Cincinnati Enquirer. 16 December 1927. p. 13. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  15. ^ Lawwill, Philip E. (18 December 1927). "Activities of Week in Cincinnati Real Estate Market". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 3. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Aviation Lanes". Cincinnati Enquirer. 6 May 1928. p. 8. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  17. ^ "Hinsch Calls for $250,000 Plane Fund". Cincinnati Post. 9 April 1928. p. 11.
  18. ^ "International Aircraft Co. Starts Production in New Cincinnati Plant". Aviation. Vol. 24, no. 9. 27 February 1928. p. 523. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  19. ^ "International Aircraft Corp at Cincinnati Dedicates New Factories and Flying Field". Aviation. Vol. 24, no. 22. 28 May 1928. p. 1530. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  20. ^ "Skylines". Cincinnati Post. 29 May 1928. p. 13.
  21. ^ "First Load of Planes is Off". Cincinnati Post. 17 August 1928. p. 20.
  22. ^ "Carload Shipped from Cincinnati". Aviation. Vol. 25, no. 10. 1 September 1928. p. 711. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  23. ^ Mueller, Louis D. (17 June 1928). "Aviation Lanes". Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 7. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Queen City to be in Air Race". Cincinnati Enquirer. 2 September 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Pennsylvania News". Aero Digest. October 1928. p. 798. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  26. ^ "Skylines". Cincinnati Post. 5 November 1928. p. 13.
  27. ^ "Sky Lines". Cincinnati Post. 28 December 1928. p. 13.
  28. ^ "Skylines". Cincinnati Post. 1 December 1928. p. 10.
  29. ^ "Skylines". Cincinnati Post. 21 December 1928. p. 24.
  30. ^ "International Aircraft to Resume Operation". Aviation. Vol. 25, no. 27. 29 December 1928. p. 2105. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  31. ^ "Plant Changes Hands". Cincinnati Enquirer. 21 May 1929. p. 7. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  32. ^ "Jackson May Get Aircraft Firm". Unionville Crescent. 15 March 1929. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  33. ^ "Interesting News Items from Around the State". Unionville Crescent. 24 May 1929. p. 1. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  34. ^ "Of Local Interest". Battle Creek Enquirer and Evening News. 28 February 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  35. ^ "International Resumes Production of Aircraft". Aviation. Vol. 26, no. 23. 8 June 1929. p. 1995. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  36. ^ "Receiver is Sought". Cincinnati Enquirer. 28 March 1929. p. 13. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  37. ^ "Airplane Attached". Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record. 11 January 1930. p. 1. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  38. ^ "Ogden Wins Before Highest Court". Cincinnati Enquirer. 10 March 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  39. ^ "Receiver is Removed by Court". Cincinnati Enquirer. 17 April 1932. p. 21. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  40. ^ "Women Pilots May Attempt New Air Mark". The Herald-Press. 22 August 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  41. ^ "Want Woman to Make Test". Detroit Free Press. 28 August 1929. p. 5. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  42. ^ Jump up to: a b Eckland, K. O. (13 November 2008). "American Airplanes: I". Aerofiles. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  43. ^ Jump up to: a b c Eckland, K. O. (15 August 2008). "American Airplanes: Ca - Ci". Aerofiles. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  44. ^ Pentland, Andrew. "Civil Aircraft Register - United States". Golden Years of Aviation. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  45. ^ McLaughlin, George F. (May 1927). "United States Airplanes and Engines". Aero Digest. pp. 404–405. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  46. ^ "International Moves to Cincinnati, Ohio". Aero Digest. January 1928. p. 73. Retrieved 10 November 2020.

Bibliography[edit]