Welch Aircraft Company Explained
| Welch Aircraft Company |
| Industry: | Aerospace |
| Predecessors: | --> |
| Founder: | Orin Welch |
| Fate: | Bankrupt |
| Successors: | --> |
| Hq Location City: | Anderson, Indiana |
| Hq Location Country: | United States |
| Areas Served: | --> |
| Owners: | --> |
History
The Orin Welch Aircraft Company was originally located in Charleston, West Virginia.[1] It purchased the holdings of the Muncie Aerial Company in 1928.[2] In 1929, it inaugurated a new airfield southwest of Anderson, Indiana.[3] Later that year, it would be purchased by the city.[4] Unfortunately, fire destroyed the plant in 1930.[5] As a result, it eventually moved to Bendix Municipal Airport in South Bend, Indiana in 1936.[6] By 1939, it had been renamed Welch Aircraft Industries.[7] It was then acquired by the Aircraft Corporation of La Porte, Indiana in 1940.[8] It was then moved to the Wyoming Valley Airport near Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.[9] By 1941, it was planned for a new factory to be located in Exeter, Pennsylvania.[10] Then, in 1943, a proposal was made to relocate to Scranton, Pennsylvania.[11] However, in 1944 the company went bankrupt.[12]
Aircraft
| Model name | First flight | Number built | Type |
|---|
| Welch OW-1 | 1927 | 4 | Single engine biplane utility airplane |
| Welch OW-2 | 1928 | 2 | Single engine biplane utility airplane |
| Welch OW-3 | 1928 | 3 | Single engine biplane utility airplane |
| Welch OW-4 | 1929 | 1 | Single engine monoplane utility airplane |
| Welch OW-5 | 1931 | 38 | Single engine monoplane utility airplane |
| Welch OW-6 | | 6[13] | Single engine monoplane utility airplane |
| Welch OW-7 | | 8 | Single engine monoplane utility airplane |
| Welch OW-8 | | 2 | Single engine monoplane utility airplane |
|
References
Bibliography
- Book: Abel . Drina Welch . The Welch Airplane Story: Airplanes Designed and Manufactured by Orin Moore Welch . 1983 . Sunshine House . Terre Haute, Indiana.
- News: Jackson . Stephen T. . An Airfield Named Welch . 8 November 2021 . Herald Bulletin . 6 July 2013.
- News: Miley . Scott L. . Pioneering Flight in Anderson . 8 November 2021 . Herald Bulletin . 8 May 2016.
External links
Notes and References
- News: Indiana News in Brief . 8 November 2021 . Indianapolis News . 18 July 1927 . 19.
- News: Greene . Richard A. . Muncie is Ideal Airport City . 8 November 2021 . Muncie Evening Press . 21 September 1928 . 22.
- News: Mahoney . Claude A. . Anderson Aerial Festival Draws Birdmen . 8 November 2021 . Indianapolis Star . 1 June 1929 . 1, 2, 12.
- News: City Will Own Airport . 8 November 2021 . Indianapolis News . 13 November 1929 . 21.
- News: 7 Anderson Planes Destroyed by Fire . 8 November 2021 . Seymour Daily Tribune . 10 November 1930 . 3.
- News: Aircraft Factory Moves to City: Welch Firm Locates at Bendix Port . 8 November 2021 . South Bend Tribune . 22 May 1936 . 1.
- News: Welch Aircraft Opens School . 8 November 2021 . South Bend Tribune . 11 June 1939 . 1.
- News: Welch Aircraft Assets Bought . 8 November 2021 . Wilkes-Barre Record . 16 October 1940 . 15.
- News: New Airplane Factory to Locate in Valley . 8 November 2021 . Wilkes-Barre Times Leader . 15 March 1940 . 3.
- News: Plan Authority to Get Industries for Area . 8 November 2021 . Wilkes-Barre Times Leader . 28 March 1941 . 14.
- News: Welch Aircraft Firm Will Locate in City . 8 November 2021 . Scranton Tribune . 10 July 1943 . 3.
- News: Welch Aircraft Assets Sold . 8 November 2021 . Wilkes-Barre Record . 7 September 1944 . 11.
- Web site: Eckland . K. O. . American Airplanes: Wa - We . Aerofiles . 8 November 2021 . 2 May 2009.
