The Call Aircraft Company ( CAC or CallAir ) was established by Reuel Call in 1939 at Afton, Wyoming , to build a touring aircraft of his own design.
20-526: The Call Aircraft Company hoped to advance the development of its CallAir Model A to the point of starting production in 1940, but the start of World War II delayed their plans, with the factory operating as an aircraft repair facility for the duration of the conflict. The company was able to continue doing research and development on the Model A, earning a type certificate in July 1944, with the future production model
40-468: A number of S-1, S-1A and L-6s, some with engine upgrades, for local ranchers and bush pilots as well as two examples of their own serial numbered CallAir S-1A-90C before stopping production, focusing instead on variations of its original CallAir Model A (which also sold in small numbers, fewer than 200 total units). One reason the Cadet may not have sold well was that this aircraft cost almost three times
60-558: Is an American two-seat tandem, high wing, single-engine monoplane light aircraft. Around 320 of these aircraft were produced between the years 1941 and 1942 by the Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation based in El Segundo, California . The construction techniques employed were a welded steel tube fuselage , wood (spruce) wing structure with metal ribs, and fabric covering, all of which were fairly standard in
80-491: The Harlow Aircraft Company in what Joseph Juptner described in his U.S. Civil Aircraft, Vol 8, as a "deal of some kind" in 1945 and then to CallAir for a reported $ 5,000 in 1950 ($ 57,000 in 2023). CallAir built two S-1A Cadets: The first, built in 1951 with the ambitious serial number of 1001, was badged as an Interstate, likely due to the preponderance of built-up Interstate components used in construction;
100-527: The Interstate Cadet (the S-1A and S-1B) were first transferred to the Harlow Aircraft Company in what Joseph Juptner described in his U.S. Civil Aircraft, Vol 8, as a "deal of some kind" in 1945 and then to CallAir for a reported $ 5,000 in 1950 ($ 57,000 in 2023). CallAir built two S-1A Cadets: The first, built in 1951 with the ambitious serial number of 1001, was badged as an Interstate, likely due to
120-592: The 1940s. An Interstate Cadet, flown by aviator Cornelia Fort and an unknown student, was one of the first aircraft (if not the first) to be attacked by IJNAS Japanese naval planes en route to the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. The original version, the S1 prototype, was powered by the 50 hp Continental A50 engine , but was soon upgraded to the Continental A65 engine and redesignated as
140-464: The Model A-2 in late 1945, but first it had to obtain the raw materials. That same year it purchased the inventory of materials from Interstate Aircraft and Engineering as supplies of steel tubing, engines, instruments, fittings, etc had been diverted to those companies with government contracts during the war. Rights to both models of the Interstate Cadet (the S-1A and S-1B) were first transferred to
160-580: The S1-A-65F. This was a common engine used in many small American two-seat aircraft of the time. This aircraft would be used during World War II under the L-6A designation. In 1945 the rights to the aircraft were sold to Harlow Aircraft Company , which in turn resold the tooling and parts to the Call Aircraft Company of Afton, Wyoming in 1946 for $ 5,000 ($ 78,000 in 2023). Callair rebuilt
180-445: The amount of the comparable Piper J-3 Cub . However, a close look at the two aircraft reveals that the Cadet was faster, stronger, and could be operated in a more rugged environment with its Oleo strut/Compression spring suspension system. Popular upgrades for this airframe included larger engines(75/85/90/100 hp), better brakes, and a different tailwheel system. In the late 1960s the type certificates and tooling were bought by
200-558: The company in 1959, and the company foundered by the end of the year. In 1962 the company's assets were purchased by the Intermountain Manufacturing Company (IMCO), headed by Barlow Call, Sr. and Carl Petersen. IMCO, less the Cadet type certificates, was later purchased by Aero Commander in December 1966. However, in 1968 Polaris leased the former factory buildings to build snowmobiles. Following
220-512: The former factory buildings to build snowmobiles. Following the death of Barlow Call in a mid-air collision while herding horses, the Cadet type certificates were sold separately by the Barlow Call estate to William Diehl as Nikiski Marine Corporation of Anchorage, Alaska in 1969 and Arctic Aircraft Company, Inc in 1970. The CallAir Foundation maintains a museum of the company in its hometown. Interstate Cadet The Interstate Cadet
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#1732797831952240-412: The market. After 20 years of ownership, founder Reuel Call sold the company in 1959, and the company foundered by the end of the year. In 1962 the company's assets were purchased by the Intermountain Manufacturing Company (IMCO), headed by Barlow Call, Sr. and Carl Petersen. IMCO, less the Cadet type certificates, was later purchased by Aero Commander in December 1966. However, in 1968 Polaris leased
260-562: The newly formed Arctic Aircraft Company who transformed the S-1B1 into a bush plane by upgrading structural elements of the fuselage, landing gear and wings. This aircraft was designated the S-1B2, was used a Lycoming O-320 160 HP engine and a McCauley propeller for increased performance and was certified in 1975 as the Arctic Tern . The new Type certification also covered installing
280-400: The point of starting production in 1940, but the start of World War II delayed their plans, with the factory operating as an aircraft repair facility for the duration of the conflict. The company was able to continue doing research and development on the Model A, earning a type certificate in July 1944, with the future production model was designated the Model A-2. CallAir started production of
300-483: The preponderance of built-up Interstate components used in construction; the second was badged a CallAir, serial number 1002, the only Cadet built with their name on it, in 1952. Production of the Model A commenced after the war with variations developed over time. Sales of the Model A grew with the A-4, which was adapted in 1954 into what Carl Petersen described as the world's first purpose-built agricultural aircraft . This
320-425: The same engine in otherwise standard Interstate Cadets. General characteristics Performance Related development Related lists Call Aircraft Company The Call Aircraft Company ( CAC or CallAir ) was established by Reuel Call in 1939 at Afton, Wyoming , to build a touring aircraft of his own design. The Call Aircraft Company hoped to advance the development of its CallAir Model A to
340-436: The second was badged a CallAir, serial number 1002, the only Cadet built with their name on it, in 1952. Production of the Model A commenced after the war with variations developed over time. Sales of the Model A grew with the A-4, which was adapted in 1954 into what Carl Petersen described as the world's first purpose-built agricultural aircraft . This was pure advertising hype as the first purpose built agricultural aircraft
360-400: Was designated the Model A-2. CallAir started production of the Model A-2 in late 1945, but first it had to obtain the raw materials. That same year it purchased the inventory of materials from Interstate Aircraft and Engineering as supplies of steel tubing, engines, instruments, fittings, etc had been diverted to those companies with government contracts during the war. Rights to both models of
380-677: Was pure advertising hype as the first purpose built agricultural aircraft was the Huff-Daland Duster designed in 1923-1924, some of which were built for Delta Dusters, later Delta Air Lines The CallAir A-4 evolved into the A-5, the best seller (83 built, including the A-5 Texan) of the Model A-series. CallAir found itself struggling against fierce competition from Cessna , Piper , and the masses of war-surplus aircraft flooding
400-430: Was the Huff-Daland Duster designed in 1923-1924, some of which were built for Delta Dusters, later Delta Air Lines The CallAir A-4 evolved into the A-5, the best seller (83 built, including the A-5 Texan) of the Model A-series. CallAir found itself struggling against fierce competition from Cessna , Piper , and the masses of war-surplus aircraft flooding the market. After 20 years of ownership, founder Reuel Call sold
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