Call Aircraft Company

The Call Aircraft Company (CAC or CallAir) was established by Reuel Call in 1939 at Afton, Wyoming to build a touring aircraft of his own design.

Call Aircraft Company
IndustryAerospace
SuccessorIntermountain Manufacturing Company
FounderReuel T. Call
Defunct1962 (1962)
Headquarters
Afton, Wyoming
,
United States

History

The hoped to advance the development of its CallAir Model A to the point of starting production in 1940, but the start of World War II delayed the start of production, with the factory operating as an aircraft repair facility for the duration of the conflict. The company was able to continue doing research and development on the Model A, earning a type certificate in July 1944, with the future production model was designated the Model A-2.

CallAir started production of the Model A-2 in late 1945, and in 1946 it purchased the rights to the Interstate Cadet from the Harlow Aircraft Company for $5,000 ($66,000 in 2019).

Production of the Model A and Cadet continued, with variations of both types being developed over time. Sales of the Model A grew with the A-4, which was adapted in 1954 into the world's first purpose-built agricultural aircraft, which was later developed into the A-5, the best seller (83 built, including the A-5 Texan) of the Model A-series.

CallAir found itself struggling against fierce competition from Cessna, Piper, and the masses of war-surplus aircraft flooding the market.[1] After 20 years of ownership, founder Reuel Call sold the company in 1959, and the company foundered by the end of the year.

In 1962 the company's assets were purchased by the Intermountain Manufacturing Company (IMCO).[2] IMCO was later purchased by Aero Commander in December 1966.[3] However, in 1968 Polaris leased the former factory buildings to build snowmobiles.[4]

Museum

The CallAir Foundation maintains a museum of the company in its hometown.

Aircraft
Callair A-2
Model name First flight Number built Type
CallAir S-1 1[5] Single engine cabin monoplane
CallAir A 1940 1 Single engine cabin monoplane
CallAir A-1 5 Single engine cabin monoplane
CallAir A-2 16 Single engine cabin monoplane
CallAir A-3 15 Single engine cabin monoplane
CallAir A-4 65 Single engine cabin monoplane
CallAir A-5 74 Single engine cabin monoplane
CallAir A-5T Texan 9 Single engine cabin monoplane
CallAir A-6 34 Single engine cabin monoplane
CallAir A-7 1 Single engine cabin monoplane
CallAir A-9 1963 Single engine monoplane agricultural airplane

See also

References
  1. "The Quiet Professor". Air Progress Sport Aircraft. Winter 1969.
  2. "Star Valley Group Seeks to Reopen Plane Plant". Billings Gazette. AP. 18 March 1962. p. 2W.
  3. "R-S Buys Aero Firm". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. AP. 24 December 1966. p. 7.
  4. "Afton Gets Snowmobile Plant". Billings Gazette. AP. 7 July 1968. p. 14.
  5. Nelon, Alex (26 July 2018). "The One and Only CallAir Cadet". General Aviation News. Retrieved 20 December 2020.

Further reading
  • Petersen, Carl J. (1989). CallAir Affair (PDF). Denver, Colorado. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
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