E. M. Laird Airplane Company
| Company type | Aircraft Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Wichita Airplane Company |
| Founded | 1923 |
Key people | Emil Matthew Laird |
E. M. Laird Airplane Company was an American aircraft manufacturer of commercial aircraft and custom race planes.[1]
Wichita Airplane Company
Emil Matthew Laird partnered with the founders of the Wichita Airplane Company to build a new commercial biplane aircraft in 1920. The E.M Laird Company built 45 Swallow aircraft of this design. E.M Laird sold all rights on 27 September 1923 to J. M Mollendick, and formed a new company, the E. M. Laird Airplane Company based out of Chicago.[2] The original E. M. Laird Company then became the Swallow Airplane Company, retaining brother Charles Laird. Charles Laird concurrently started a short lived aircraft company named Laird Aircraft Corporation, publicly known as Whipporwhill in order to differentiate himself from Emil.[3]
E.M. Laird Aircraft
The E.M. Laird Aircraft company returned to Laird's hometown, building facilities at Ashburn Field, in Ashburn, Chicago. By 1928, Laird's aircraft had reached a level quality and competition, that the Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company offered to hire Laird, and purchase all the assets of his company.[4]
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laird LCW-300 Speedwing | Template:Avyear | Biplane | |
| Laird Solution | Template:Avyear | 1 | Racing aircraft |
| Laird LC-1B-300 [5] | Template:Avyear | 4 | Commercial Biplane |
| Laird LC-DE Junior Speedwing | Template:Avyear | 1 | Racing aircraft |
| Laird LC-RW450[6] | Template:Avyear | 2 | Racing aircraft |
| Laird LC-DW500 Super Solution | Template:Avyear | 1 | Racing aircraft |
| Laird-Turner Meteor LTR-14 (modifications) | Template:Avyear | 1 | Racing aircraft |
References
- ^ "Swallow Aircraft". Retrieved 16 November 2011.
- ^ Wichita Eagle. 26 December 1920. p. C8.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Donald M. Pattillo. A History in the Making: 80 Turbulent Years in the American General Aviation Industry. p. 6.
- ^ Ford Richardson Bryan; Sarah Evans. Henry's attic: some fascinating gifts to Henry Ford and his museum.
- ^ "Larry Howards Loveley Laird". Vintage Airplane. February 2010.
- ^ AAHS Journal: 74. Spring 2004.
{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)
