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| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1927 (1927) |
| Founders |
|
| Defunct | 1946 (1946) |
| Fate | Acquired byCommonwealth Aircraft |
| Headquarters | , United States |
TheColumbia Aircraft Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer, which was active between 1927 and 1947.
Columbia Aircraft was founded in December 1927 byCharles A. Levine as chairman and the aircraft designerGiuseppe Mario Bellanca as president. The initial name used wasColumbia Air Liners, Inc.[1] The aircraft factory was established atHempstead, New York. Levine hired pilotsBert Acosta,Eroll Boyd,John Wycliff Isemann,Burr Leyson, andRoger Q. Williams at $200 a week to perform a series of publicity record attempts for the company.[2]
The most ambitious project for the company was the "Uncle Sam". Main participant were John Carisi as motor expert, Edmond Chagniard, French designer and airplane constructor, andAlexander Kartveli as technical engineer fromGeorgia. The $250,000 prototype was brought to market at the height of the depression. It was sold at auction for $3,000 to pay back hangar rent. The "Uncle Sam" and two other Triads were destroyed shortly afterward in aRoosevelt Field hangar fire where 20 other aircraft were spared.[3]
By 1941, the firm's title wasColumbia Aircraft Corporation and the factory was located atColumbia Field nearValley Stream,Long Island.[4]
From 1941, Columbia worked closely withGrumman Aircraft, undertaking the development and production of that company's military amphibian aircraft designs including theJ2F Duck[4] and theColumbia JL. The chief test pilot for the amphibians was noted aviator LieutenantJohnny Miller.[5]
After the completion of wartime contracts for the United States Navy, the firm's operations reduced in scale and Columbia was acquired byCommonwealth Aircraft in 1946.[6][failed verification] In 1956, theGreen Acres Mall was built at the location of Columbia Field.
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia CAL-1 Triad | 2 | Single engine monoplane seaplane[7] | |
| Columbia Uncle Sam | 1929 | 1 | Single engine monoplane transport[7] |
| Columbia J2F-6 Duck | 1943[8] | 330 | Single engine monoplane floatplane scout plane |
| Columbia JL | 3 | Single engine monoplane floatplane scout plane |
