E. M. Laird Airplane Company

E. M. Laird Airplane Company
Aircraft Manufacturer
Founded 1923
Key people
 Emil Matthew Laird
1929 Laird LCW-300 Speedwing

E. M. Laird Airplane Company was an American aircraft manufacturer of commercial aircraft and custom race planes.[1]

Laird Airplane logo on a 1929 Laird

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 cocurrently 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

Summary of aircraft built by
Model name First flight Number built Type
Laird LCW-300 Speedwing 1929 Biplane
Laird Solution 1930 1 Racing aircraft
Laird LC-1B-300 [5] 1930 4 Commercial Biplane
Laird LC-RW450[6] 1931 2 Racing aircraft
Laird LC-DW500 Super Solution 1931 1 Racing aircraft
Laird-Turner Meteor LTR-14 (modifications) 1936 1 Racing aircraft

References

  1. ↑ "Swallow Aircraft". Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  2. ↑ Wichita Eagle. 26 December 1920. p. C8. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ Donald M. Pattillo. A History in the Making: 80 Turbulent Years in the American General Aviation Industry. p. 6.
  4. ↑ Ford Richardson Bryan; Sarah Evans. Henry's attic: some fascinating gifts to Henry Ford and his museum.
  5. ↑ "Larry Howards Loveley Laird". Vintage Airplane. February 2010.
  6. ↑ AAHS Journal: 74. Spring 2004. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

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