Metal Aircraft Corporation

File:Flamingo Airplane Assembly Line.png

In October 1927, Thomas E. Halpin, the former chief inspector of the Stout Metal Airplane Company, moved to Cincinnati and founded the Halpin Development Corporation to begin work on a new airplane design.{{cite news |title=Men and Matters |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/100536077 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=23 October 1927 |page=20}}{{cite news |last1=Herman |first1=M. B. |title=Air Pilots of Cincinnati |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/100484485 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=22 April 1928 |page=8}}{{cite magazine |title=Halpin Development Co. |magazine=Aero Digest |date=April 1928 |publisher=Aeronautical Digest Publishing Corporation |volume=12 |issue=4 |page=552 |url=http://archive.org/details/aerodigest1219unse/page/552 |access-date=4 July 2021}} He was joined by Ralph R. Graichen, the co-designer of the Ford Trimotor, who became vice-president and chief engineer of the company.{{cite magazine |title=Arup Production Under Way |magazine=Aero Digest |date=May 1934 |publisher=Aeronautical Digest Publishing Corporation |volume=24 |issue=5 |page=70 |url=http://archive.org/details/aerodigest2419unse/page/n415 |access-date=4 July 2021}} By January 1928, construction of the Halpin Flamingo had started.{{cite news |title=Auto Show Notes |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/103010956 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=17 January 1928 |page=7}} Following the first flight of the airplane at Lunken Airport on 9 April 1928, the company was offered $10,000 if it would remain in Cincinnati.{{cite news |title=First Flight of Home Ship Success |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/100478737 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=9 April 1928 |page=10}} Within two weeks the company was purchased by a group of Cincinnatians and on 2 May 1928 it was reincorporated as the Metal Aircraft Corporation.{{efn|This group included Powell Crosley and Julius Fleischmann, Jr.{{cite web |last1=Prout |first1=Don |title=Airplanes |url=http://www.cincinnativiews.net/Airplanes.htm |website=Cincinnati Views |access-date=24 May 2021}}}}{{cite news |title=Cincinnatians Acquire Plane Righs |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/100482467 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=19 April 1928 |page=11}}{{cite news |title=Queen City to Be Factory Center |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/100517905 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=2 May 1928 |page=12}} Production of the Metal Aircraft Flamingo transport was continued at its factory at the Lunken Airport with several variations.{{cite book|title=Timeline: a publication of the Ohio Historical Society, Volume 23|author=Ohio Historical Society}}

In September 1928, construction on a new factory was started at Lunken Airport.{{efn|The factory was built on the west side of Wilmer Avenue.{{cite news |last1=Golden |first1=J. T. Jr. |title=Aviation Lanes |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/100487336 |access-date=23 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=21 September 1930 |page=4}} However, due to the road being moved westward in the 1960s, the former site of the factory is now to the east of it.{{cite news |title=Wilmer Avenue Relocation Job is Under Way |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/104317125 |access-date=23 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=24 September 1962 |page=27}}{{Failed verification|date=December 2020}}}}{{cite news |last1=Mueller |first1=Louis D. |title=Aviation Lanes |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/100525718 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=9 September 1928 |page=9}} Later, by July 1929, Mason-Dixon Air Lines installed a ticket counter and waiting room in the building.{{cite news |title=Cincinnati-Detroit Air Line Starts |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/100506541 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=21 July 1929 |page=4}}

Following a merger with the Johnson Airplane and Supply Company of Dayton, Ohio and the Kansas City Airport in September 1929, Robert H. Shryver, president of Columbus Flying Service, purchased a controlling interest in the company.{{cite news |title=An Alphabet of Aviation |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/103454500 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=14 September 1929 |page=13}}{{cite news |title=Airplane Supply Merger Planned to Make City Leader in Output of Accessories |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/104696157 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=7 August 1929 |page=15}}{{cite news |title=Banker Takes Over Company |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/103456234 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=24 September 1929 |page=17}}

By 1932, the former Metal Aircraft Corporation factory was being used by the Vermilya-Huffman Flying Service and the Jones-Graichen Aircraft Corporation.{{cite news |title=Aviation Lanes |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99519773 |access-date=22 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=7 February 1932}}{{cite news |title=Aviation Lanes |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/99520346 |access-date=23 December 2020 |work=Cincinnati Enquirer |date=14 February 1932 |page=2}}{{efn|The latter was developing a single engine low wing monoplane with the unusual feature of "venturi tubes" located in the landing gear fairings.}}

File:JimmieAngelPlane.jpg El Rio Caroni, which was used by Jimmy Angel to discover Angel Falls]]

• Aeronca Aircraft
• International Aircraft

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• {{cite web |last1=Eckland |first1=K. O. |title=American Airplanes: Fa - Fu |url=http://aerofiles.com/_f.html |website=Aerofiles |access-date=21 December 2020 |date=18 November 2008}}
• {{cite book|title=Crosley: Two Brothers and a Business Empire that Transformed the Nation|isbn=978-1-57860-291-9|publisher=Clerisy Press|date=9 November 2006|first1=Rusty|last1=McClure|first2=David|last2=Stern|first3=Michael A.|last3=Banks|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/crosleytwobrothe00mccl|pages=217–232}}

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{{commons category|Metal Aircraft Corp}}

• [http://www.cincymuseum.org/blog/post/4698/The-Flamingo-Takes-Flight%3A-Cincinnati%E2%80%99s-First-All-Metal-Airplane%2C-Pt.-1 The Flamingo Takes Flight: Cincinnati's First All-Metal Airplane, Pt. 1 – Cincinnati Museum Center]
• [http://www.cincymuseum.org/blog/post/4700/The%20Flamingo%20Takes%20Flight%3A%20Cincinnati%E2%80%99s%20First%20All-Metal%20Airplane%2C%20Pt.%202 The Flamingo Takes Flight: Cincinnati's First All-Metal Airplane, Pt. 2 – Cincinnati Museum Center]

Category:Aviation in Ohio

Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States

Category:Defunct companies based in Cincinnati