Union Aircraft Company was an American aircraft manufacturer specializing in race aircraft. California based aircraft designer Keith Rider had developed aircraft since 1916, and specialty aircraft for the

National Air Races The National Air Races (also known as Pulitzer Trophy Races) are a series of pylon and cross-country races that have taken place in the United States since 1920. The science of aviation, and the speed and reliability of aircraft and engines grew ...

in the early 1930s. Starting his career as a draftsman for the Glen L. Martin Company. His five early racing designs built in a casket factory were state of the art monoplanes of the era. Despite large payoffs in the height of the depression, Rider fell into debt with the Story-Gawley Propeller company. He founded the Union Aircraft Company as a subsidiary of Story-Gawley to produce an aircraft that would provide enough winnings to pay off the debts, and seek future profits. The company produced the

Rider R-6 The Rider R-6 was the last of the Keith Rider designed racing aircraft of the 1930s. Development The R-6 eightball had smooth plywood skins painted light blue with a large eight ball on each side. The actual racing number for the aircraft was 18 ...

"Eight-Ball". The profits did not come about, leading to the end of aircraft production. In 1941 the parent company Story-Gawley was absorbed by Industrial Forming. Rider went on to become Vice President of Doak Aircraft, and project engineer for the Timm Aircraft Company.

Aircraft

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Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States Companies based in Glendale, California