Harlow Aircraft Company
 The prototype Harlow PC-5A trainer during flight testing | |
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1936 |
| Founders | Max B. Harlow |
| Defunct | 1941 |
| Fate | Sold to Vultee Aircraft in 1941 |
| Successor | Vultee Aircraft |
Harlow Aircraft Company was an American aircraft manufacturer at Alhambra Airport, Alhambra, California.
History
The company was founded in 1936 by professor Max B. Harlow to build the Harlow PJC-2 a production version of the PJC-1. The aircraft had been designed and built as a class project at Pasadena Junior College.[1] Harlow had worked with Howard Hughes on the Hughes H-1 racer. Hughes in turn later backed Harlow's enterprise. Flight operations were conducted at Alhambra Airport in the former Western Air Express hangar.[2] The PJC-2 was followed by a military training version the Harlow PC-5. The PC-5 rights were purchased by Cub Aircraft Limited for wartime production. Harlow in turn bought one-third interest in Porterfield Aircraft Corporation. A majority interest in the company was bought by Intercontinent Corporation in 1941 who then sold the company to Vultee Aircraft The company and facilities were subsequently used to build aircraft assemblies and components throughout the war. In 1945 the company bought Alhambra Airport for $350,000 with the intention to build the Interstate Cadet but resold the rights to Call Aircraft Company in 1946 for $5,000, and the airport to real-estate developers.[3]
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harlow PJC-1 | Template:Avyear | 1 | Single engine cabin monoplane |
| Harlow PJC-2 | 11 | Single engine cabin monoplane | |
| Harlow PJC-4 | N/A | 0 | Unfinished military trainer |
| Harlow PC-5 | Template:Avyear | 33+ | Military trainer |
| Harlow PC-6 | 1 | Modified version of PC-5 |
References
- ^ Parker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II, pp. 121, 128, Cypress, CA, 2013. ISBN 978-0-9897906-0-4.
- ^ John Underwood (Winter 1969). "The Quiet Professor". Air Progress Sport Aircraft.
- ^ Alhambra Airport Archived 2007-05-28 at the Wayback Machine
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2099
- Google Bookes extract from U.S.Civil Aircraft Series, Vol 8