Metal Aircraft Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer of transport aircraft. The company was a pioneer in all-metal construction at a time when the technology was in its infancy.

History

In October 1927, Thomas E. Halpin, the former chief inspector of the

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, moved to Cincinnati and founded the Halpin Development Corporation to begin work on a new airplane design. He was joined by Ralph R. Graichen, the co-designer of the

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, who became vice-president and chief engineer of the company. By January 1928, construction of the Halpin Flamingo had started. 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. 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. Production of the Metal Aircraft Flamingo transport was continued at its factory at the

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with several variations. In September 1928, construction on a new factory was started at

. Later, by July 1929, Mason-Dixon Air Lines installed a ticket counter and waiting room in the building. Following a merger with the Johnson Airplane and Supply Company of

Dayton, Ohio Dayton () is the sixth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County. A small part of the city extends into Greene County. The 2020 U.S. census estimate put the city population at 137,644, while Greater Day ...

and the Kansas City Airport in September 1929, Robert H. Shryver, president of Columbus Flying Service, purchased a controlling interest in the company. By 1932, the former Metal Aircraft Corporation factory was being used by the Vermilya-Huffman Flying Service and the Jones-Graichen Aircraft Corporation.

Aircraft

References

Footnotes

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

{{commons category, Metal Aircraft Corp
The Flamingo Takes Flight: Cincinnati’s First All-Metal Airplane, Pt. 1 – Cincinnati Museum Center

The Flamingo Takes Flight: Cincinnati’s First All-Metal Airplane, Pt. 2 – Cincinnati Museum Center
Aviation in Ohio Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States Defunct companies based in Cincinnati