Aeronca History

Tells the history of Aeroncas

[@IowaKim]

My father worked at Aeronca for many years as an Engineer. He met my mother there, as she worked in the engineering library. Dad worked after hours with a team to recreate a C-2 (or was it a C-3?), and sadly while being flown to Osh Kosh air venture, the pilot had a heart attack, and died during flight. It crashed. When dad retired, he was given a picture of the plane and all the guys & gals at the plant signed the matting. He passed away in 1988 at the age of 70. Dad had immigrated to the US in 1954 from England and started at Aeronca sometime in the 50's after working his contract at RCA. Kenneth George Betts. He was that crazy Englishman who rode his BMW motorcycle to work most days, or a little VW Bug with no passenger seat (so he could haul his keg of beer). Mom was quite the looker in her day and was prohibited from taking the plans though the plant because a machinist almost cut off his hand. Dad was dapper, so it was a natural match. You could say if it wasn't for Aeronca, me or my sister wouldn't be here. I remember being at the dinner table (1960's-70's) and him talking about the SST program, the Apollo mission, the shuttle project (heat shields) and various military projects. We had rejected honey comb steel panels for our chickenhouse floor. Neil Armstrong lived 3 miles down the road from our rural Lebanon home. Dad received a certificate from NASA for his work on the Apollo mission, and managed to take it to Neil's home, where Neil wrote a nice paragraph on it and signed it. "With the thanks from those of us who rode behind a superb heat shield". Thank you for taking the time to publish this slideshow.

[@rogeranderson2547]

Kim X Wonderful Kim. The National Aeronca Association has a 3 day convention in Middletown every other year at the location of the old factory. The next one is June 2020.

[@gordonmccoy4537]

Thanks for a very well-put-together Vid... Great history.... The very first aircraft I bought was a 7-AC..... Had to begg it to 3,000 feet on a hot Summer day in Fayetteville NC.... (That was back in '77......)

[@richardprice6414]

Great memorable. History of Aeronc. I got my private in the 7ac in 1947. It was a good flying plane!

[@elosogonzalez8739]

Outstanding presentation! Been around aviation all my life. Had a wonderful flight in a Champ as a boy. So many incredible photos that I've never seen before. Thank you for keeping the history alive. It's a testament of the commitment to manufacturing an excellent aircraft and it's the reason so many still exist today.

[@petergraham3292]

The accepted wisdom seems to be that Dietz was killed flying the prototype C-1. However, FAA files show that the C-1 was destroyed the previous month in a fire in the factory and the C-2N prototype is shown as crashing on the very date and in the same place as Dietz. I think we can safely say he was flying the C-2N.

[@ronfry3324]

Maurice Fry was my uncle. My dads oldest brother. I still have the prop blade that came off the L3 he was flying ripping the engine off completely. Two things they left out of the video. 1. Was the success Aeronca had during the 1941 Loisianna Army war games. My uncle and Lou Wurhing flew O58Bs down there and paticipated. Best story was when they would land on an old dirt road, taxi up to a gas station and fill up. Life magazine did a story about it with a picture of Lou at the pumps. 2. Was the successful development of an air ambulance. They used an early Chief and modified the pilots side with a large door and rails to slide the stretcher in and out. My uncle flew it to D.C. to demonstrate it. I have heard that the remains were in Northern Ohio. It was sold and subsequently crashed and burned. Its what my dad related to me. AERONCA had alot of firsts. I always wonder what would have been had the Chum been more successful or if they would have gone to moncouqe construction much sooner. The 15AC was a great flying aircraft but by that time people didnt want the hassle of fabric covering. Cessna beat them to it. Amazing to think the basic design is still being built with the Citabria. I also always thought the Chum looks an awful lot like the Erocoup.

[@shannonwittman950]

Thanks for this great video. I'm a baby-boomer who flew a lot with my Dad in the 1960's-70's, so I was around the old roundwing airplanes of the 1930's-40's that were still plentiful at airports around America. Seems Aeronca was a real "goin' concern" since its inception with many guys and gals as proud employees. I'll bet that a lot of them pulled up stakes and followed Aeronca to Middletown. Building and innovating -- while making the most of the war years by finding the government contracts. I was surprised to note that as early as 1942 Aeronca was looking toward the postwar years with the development of its Model 9 Arrow! A shame that it didn't get into the running, seems like a sleek bird that could've been stiff competition for Piper, Cessna and Stinson. Also ... too bad the Aeronca LC wasn't conceived as a four seater. I was also surprised that the eternal Champion was not mentioned sooner herein. Was the Defender the primary Aeronca to see service in WWII? Or the Champ derivative? At busy John Wayne Airport (Orange County, CA) there is a flight school that still has a brace of Citabrias in its training stable.

[@kevinoregan7355]

Roger, your outstanding Presentation, accompanied by such beautiful music, made complete by such insightful Replies, make this a remarkable collection, for posterity. I would be grateful if you would tell me the names of the beautiful accompanying music, if possible, please. Thankyou from Ireland.

[@martytaylor575]

I learned to fly in a1947 7ac Champ when I was in high school. Ended up a 757 Captain

[@cybair9341]

Thank you for this trip in the past. I really enjoyed it ! I am really impressed that they manufactured their own engine and that engine was of a non-conventional smart design.

[@peerplaut]

My dad's uncles. John and Carl. :)

[@PacoOtis]

These are the shoulders we stand on today! Thanks for sharing.

[@Siren851]

What a great presentation. I got a lump in my throat watching it. Aeronca manufactured some fine airplanes and contributed to the efforts of two wars. I learned to fly in one though I took it for granted back then. Good to see the human side of production as well as the technical progress. Only in America.

[@blainejobin1039]

i,ll be getting the 1947 champ,,,looking for word in training on it....

[@danielcarlson7002]

EXCELLENT presentation!!!!!!! Lifetime Aeronca buff here. My Grandpa told me there used to be an Aeronca dealership at Torrance Muni (Zamperini Field-Los Angeles) long ago, which is not far from my place of birth. I dream of the the day I could afford to own/operate a 7AC.

[@aerostaraircraftsanctuary604]

Interesting video.

[@m.e.7558]

i was 16years old & solo'd a champ in1952 (my hours paid with earning from paper route). wish i had seen this in the 50,s. brings back found memories of the times.

[@charliebowman785]

Beautiful planes, horrible music.

[@faainspector9699]

Charlie Bowman What. You prefer Gorgaroth or Cannibal Corpse ????.........i think the music suits the video

[@ConvairDart106]

Mute it then, and turn on your stereo to whatever suits your fancy Ding Dong! Whine much do you? Bet you are a joy to live with too!

[@BevoHoward]

Very Nice ! Thank You!

[@abundantYOUniverse]

Fantastic the best, thanks!

[@jackaustin3576]

I flew 4 different ( Champion ) Tri-Champs in 1958 - 1959....Flew a 15 AC in 1973...Owned a 7AC in 1977....Love the Champs....

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

5:55 is not a C-2 cockpit with double rudder pedals. It's a standard C-3 cockpit with double pedals as normal.

[@jayare-]

Great snapshot of Aeronca!

[@rogeranderson2547]

I found this tucked away a few years ago. I did not create it and here at age 82, have no idea where it came from. Since it was made to celebrate Aeroncas, I hope its creator, whoever it might be, doesn't mind fellow lovers of Aeronca getting to appreciate it.

[@dvgebhart]

I owned and restored N84296 fantastic 🤩

[@jhaedtler]

Great video, but I could do without the crappy music!

[@jackaustin3576]

A great documentary....