Welcome

I don't know if any of you were a member of the "Porterfield Airplane Club" which Chuck Lebrecht hosted for many years. Chuck has decided to give up the Porterfield Club due to health and economic reasons. I've taken it upon myself to keep the legacy going and have started this social web site dedicated to "Keeping the Skinny Birds Flying".

The site will be a good place to share information, pictures, stories, videos, parts, and to create lasting friendships for people with an interest or knowledge of the Porterfield Airplane. I just started getting this site together June 1st, 2009, so there is a limited amount of information. If you have any information to add, please do. If you have parts for sale, help items, technical info, or just want to share your airplane pictures please join us.

Also, if you have any ideas to improve the site, please feel free to comment and/or help build the site. I hope that this site will generate a database for information and history pertaining to the Porterfield Airplanes that may be shared and used by all interested. As well as a place to meet and make life long friends whom share some of the same interests of flying, building, and knowledge of the Porterfield Airplane. If you know any others that may be interested please invite them to join.

Brief History of the Porterfield Airplane

The American Eagle Aircraft Corporation was started in 1925 by Ed Porterfield for the express purpose of providing a safe training aircraft for the fledgling Porterfield Flying School. Porterfield felt that a safer, better performing trainer was badly needed to replace the existing "Jennys" and Lincoln "Standards" being used in his flight school. In April 1926, the American Eagle, Model A-1, first flew from Richards Field in Kansas City, Missouri. The airplane had been designed by Waverly Stearman after much consultation with Porterfield concerning the characteristics necessary for a good training aircraft. It was a three-place, open cockpit bi-plane that was suitable for both training and light commercial activity and was typical of the era. In November, 1927, the OX-5 powered A-1 received an Approved type Certificate - ATC #17. Various changes were made to the original A-1 design (The most notable being the addition of ailerons on the lower wing.) leading to the A-101 designation. Most Eagles were powered with war surplus Curtiss OX-5 engines, but variations were available with the OXX-6, Hisso, Anzani, and others. During may of 1928, production was 12 planes per week with ever increasing orders. In mid-1928 an OX-5 powered A-101 sold for $2815. Approximately 300 of the A-1 / A-101 models were sold.

In 1929, American Eagle brought out a new model, the A-129, which received ATC #124. The new model was very similar to the earlier "Eagles" except that it was powered by a 5-cylinder Kinner K5 engine which required a longer nose on the aircraft to maintain proper balance. This gave rise to the "Eagle" A-1 and A-101 versions being called "shortnose Eagles", and the A-129 Kinner powered model being called the "longnose Eagle" and other such names. The A-129 "Kinner Eagle" would not win any beauty contests, but it was stable and reasonably easy to fly. The A-129 was also sold with several other engine configurations including the OX-5 and OXX-6.

During 1928 and 1929 business was booming for the American Eagle Aircraft Corporation and they produced several other aircraft in addition to the A-101 and A-129. None of these sold as well, but production of the A-201, A-139, A-229, A-329, A-429, as well as several prototypes, placed the company near the top of the vibrant aircraft industry. The stockmarket crash in late 1929 changed all that, and in 1930 the company found almost no market for its aircraft. In desperation, Porterfield started the design that eventually became the American Eaglet monoplane. It was a small, light weight, parasol design that was powered by a three cylinder Szekely radial engine. Although the "Eaglet" sold fairly well, the company was in trouble, and in May 1931, the American Eagle Aircraft Corporation merged with the Lincoln Aircraft Company. The new company was known as the American-Eagle-Lincoln Aircraft Company, and most of the production was focused on the "Eaglet". However, the deepening depression soon ended this last gasp of American Eagle. Ed Porterfield went on in later years to organize the well known Porterfield Airplane Company.

During its six years in existence the American Eagle Aircraft Corporation produced over 700 aircraft and held eight Approved Type Certificates issued by the Department of Commerce. It was the third largest producer of commercial aircraft in the world at the time of the depression, and its products were among the finest private aircraft manufactured during that era.

History from Wings of History Museum.


During the 1930s, the firm of Porterfield Aircraft Corporation, located in Kansas City, was enjoying a modest success with the Model 35 light aircraft - a tandem two-seater built of traditional steel tube fuselage with a wooden wing - all, of course, covered in fabric. The exceedingly slim fuselage sported a variety of engines including the five-cylinder Warner Scarab junior radial of 90-hp. Aimed at the lower-cost sport flying market, the Model 35 could be fitted with various options and numerous paint schemes were available.

As the new four-cylinder opposed powerplants came available, Ed Porterfield modified his basic design a bit to take advantage of these new and reliable engines. The CP-50 retained the standard Porterfield profile but it was fitted with either Franklin, Continental, or Lycoming engines - all of 50-hp. Given the name Collegiate, famed race pilot Roscoe Turner was briefly the sales manager and director of advertising for the new design. Available in variants ranging from a very basic training machine to a more deluxe sports model, over 50 were built before attention was turned to the higher-powered CP-55 and CP-65 models.

Once again, these aircraft were all fitted with opposed engines from the three manufacturers but the airframes were basically similar to the earlier design.
Porterfield never achieved the numerical success of the larger light aircraft manufacturers such as Piper, Aeronca, and Taylorcraft but the planes were well made and popular with pilots. However, with the start of World War Two, light aircraft production for civilian use came to a stop and the bigger companies benefited greatly from military contracts but Porterfield, with no large military orders forthcoming, quietly faded away.

Porterfield 35
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Model 35 Flyabout
Role two-seat cabin monoplane
Manufacturer Porterfield Aircraft Corporation
Designed by Noel Hockaday
First flight 1935
Introduced 1935
Number built 240+

The Porterfield Model 35 Flyabout was an American two-seat cabin monoplane built by the Porterfield Aircraft Corporation of Kansas City.
Development
The aircraft was designed by Noel Hockaday and was built by students at the Wyandotte High School as the Wyandotte Pup. Porterfield Aircraft recognised the potential of the aircraft design and bought the design rights and also the services of Hockaday as works manager and designer. The Pup was developed to appear in 1935 as the Porterfield Model 35 Flyabout a braced high-wing-monoplane. It had a fixed tailskid landing gear and room for two. It was originally powered by a 60hp (45kW) LeBlond 5D radial engine. Variants later appeared with different engine installations and a deluxe model the De Luxe Sport. Over 240 aircraft were built.

Variants
Model 35
1935 production variant with a 60hp (45kW) LeBlond 5D radial engine
Model 35-70
1937 production variant with a 70hp (52kW) LeBlond 5DE radial engine.
Model 35-V
Variant powered by a 65hp (48kW) Velie M-5 engine.
Model 35-W (De Luxe Sport)
Luxury model (also known as the Model 90) with a 90hp (67kW) Warner Scarab Junior radial engine.

Specifications (Model 35-70)
Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2760
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Capacity: 1 passenger
Length: 20 ft 3 in (6.17 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
Height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Wing area: 147 ft² (13.66 m²)
Empty weight: 806 lb (366 kg)
Gross weight: 1310 lb (594 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × LeBlond 5DE radial piston, 70 hp (52 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 115 mph (185 km/h)
Range: 360 miles (579 km)
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4570 m)

Porterfield Collegiate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Collegiate
Role two-seat monoplane trainer
Manufacturer Porterfield Aircraft Corporation
First flight 1936
Introduced 1936
Produced 1936-1941
Number built 400

The Porterfield Collegiate was an American two-seat training monoplane built by the Porterfield Aircraft Corporation of Kansas City.
Development
Developed originally as the Porterfield Zephyr a light-weight version of the earlier Model 35 Flyabout for use a pilot trainer. Powered by a 40hp (30kW) Continental A-40 engine it was later re-designated the Porterfield CP-40. To improve performance the engine was replaced with a 50hp (47kW) Continental A50-4 engine and re-designated the CP-50 Collegiate. It was a braced high-wing monoplane with a tailskid fixed landing gear. Total production was about 400 when production stopped in 1941 at the start of American involvement in the Second World War. A number of variants were produced with different engine installations.

Variants
CP-40 Zephyr
Original 40hp version
CP-50
Improved production variant with a 1935 production variant with a 50hp (47kW) Continental A50-4 engine
CP-55
Revised engine cowling
CP-65
Powered by a 65hp (48kW) Continental A65-8/9 engine.
FP-60
Powered by a 60hp (45kW) Franklin 4AC-171-A1 engine.
FP-65
Powered by a 65hp (48kW) Franklin 4AC-176-B29 engine.
LP-50
Powered by a 50hp (37kW) Avco Lycoming O-145-A1 engine.
LP-55
Powered by a 55hp (41kW) Avco Lycoming O-145-A3 engine.
LP-65
Powered by a 65hp (48kW) Avco Lycoming O-145-B1/B2 engine.
Specifications (CP-65)
Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2760
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 22 ft 8 in (6.91 m)
Wingspan: 34 ft 9 in (10.59 m)
Height: 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Wing area: 168.80 ft² (15.68 m²)
Empty weight: 671 lb (304 kg)
Gross weight: 1160 lb (526 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Continental A65-8/9 flat-four piston engine, 65 hp (48 kW)
Performance
Maximum speed: 108 mph (174 km/h)
Range: 300 miles (483 km)
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4570 m)


High Flight

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr

Posted April 10, 2013

1940 PORTERFIELD LP65 994TT • $22,900 • LSA FOR SALE • Beautiful Porterfield for sale, 994TT 65SMOH 9/12 Annual Complete ground up rebuild/engine OH in 2008. Solid 9+ in/out Why pay 10k+ more for a J3 in similar condition when you could have something much more rare and unique while flying a whopping 5mph faster!! 65HP LYC with 1940's Flottorp prop. Rebuild featured in Vintage Airplane magizine 2008 • Contact Calvin B. Wiley, Owner - located Summer Shade, KY USA • Telephone: 1 270 670 6738 • Posted March 29, 2013 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad • View Larger Pictures • Finance New Lower Rates!

 

Posted January 16, 2013

1939 CP-50      $18000.00     Airworthy and Currently Flying

                               One Owner for over 40 years!

Always hangared at Twin Oaks Airport

TT 3500 hours---Estimated

TSMOH 1290 hours---Estimated

Wings need new fabric

Fuselage and tail feathers good

Sensenich Wood Propeller

Contact: Ben Rushford

Cell 503-341-5364

Home 503-636-1777

 

 

AS Seen on www.barnstormes.com

PORTERFIELD 35-70 • $28,000 • FOR SALE • Two Porterfield 35-70 projects for sale. One completely original with less than 160 hrs TTSN. Two overhauled engines with enough parts to build a third. Two hubs and one original propeller. New wing ribs, spars, new drag wires, and hardware to build wings. • Contact Shawn Mulligan, Friend of Owner - located Sonoma, CA USA • Telephone: 415-596-8403 • Fax: 415-596-8403 • Posted January 19, 2012 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad • View Larger Pictures • Finance New Lower Rates!

 

1940 Porterfield Collegiate Airplane

I have a 1940 Porterfield Collegiate airplane project that I am looking to

trade for a VW. I would be interested in pre-1968 Bugs, pre-79 buses,

Single Cabs, Double Cabs or anything interesting.
I will also sell the plane outright if you are interested.

The plane has original engine, brand new windshield, good prop,

 log books for engine and airframe. This plane was used as a

-WWII trainer airplane. Only 28 Porterfields flying worldwide.

Super Rare Airplane.
Very complete plane for easy restoration

Email for photos of my plane.

Advertiser information	Ad information
Advertiser: Name: Member since: jdvw73 JD September 17, 2009 Email this Advertiser	Location:  Ad placed Huntington Beach,  California, USA

 

 

 

As Seen on www.barnstormers.com

 

PORTERFIELD 35-70 • $7,000 • FOR SALE • Porterfield 35-70 light sport project. Fuselage, tailfeathers, struts, landing gear, oil & gas tank. Spar blanks, drag wires, complete set of new ribs, fittings, wing drawings, running Leblond 5DE 70hp with engine manual. No prop hub or prop. Plane was decertified. Data plate and original paperwork included. $7000.00 • Contact Shawn Mulligan, Friend of Owner - located Sonoma, CA USA • Telephone: 415-596-8403 • Fax: 415-596-8403 • Posted November 21, 2011 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad • Finance New Lower Rates!

 

For Sale: 1940 porterfield LP65 NC32412

$24000

Airframe TT 993, engine TT is 61, compression at last annual on 8-27-11, was
78,77,78,76. all over 80. complete restoration finished in may of 2008.
Airplane was featured in Vintage Airplane magazine sept.2008 issue pages 28-31.
Asking price is 24,000.     Thanks Hank Meador 812-457-5438
cropduster5551@att.net

 

 

 

1940 PORTERFIELD CP65 • $24,500 • FOR SALE • Cont 65 210 SMOH Taken out of long term storage everything inspected replaced as necessary, new paint and interior, Cotton cover tests green. Looks like it just left the factory • Contact John J. O'Connor, Owner - located Mount Dora, FL USA • Telephone: 352 348 1325 . • Posted November 8, 2011 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad • View Larger Pictures • Finance New Lower Rates!

 

PORTERFIELD CP-50/65 • $28,000 • LSA FOR SALE • 1940 Porterfield N25495 Certified LSA Antique. TOTALLY rebuilt to better than new condition. Upgraded to 65 HP Cont. engine. 16 Hours since restoration in 2010 - 16 SMOH. New wings with upgrades, restored by AP-IA and partner who is 8 time rebuilder of antique aircraft. NEW wings, turtleback, floorboards, cables, fuel tank, fabric (stuart systems). A beautiful plane, flies and runs great. new tires, tubes, rebuilt brakes, new maule tailwheel. owned by Spartan School of Aeronautics, Tulsa, OK in the 1950s. Parsons, KS 620 717 5086 or 620 423 4636 • Contact Murland L. Taylor, Owner - located Parsons, KS USA • Telephone: 620-717-5086 . 620 -421-6222 . 620-421-3241 • Posted October 11, 2011 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad • View Larger Pictures • Finance New Lower Rates!

 

 

 

    FOR SALE   FOR SALE   FOR SALE   FOR SALE   FOR SALE  

 

I have decided to sell my Porterfield and was wondering if you know of anyone looking for a project.   My Skinny Bird is pretty complete minus some instruments and the brakes.  If you know of anyone looking for a good project I would love to see this Skinny Bird get back in the air.   I am just to busy with other projects right now and don't want to keep this bird just sitting in my hangar collecting dust. 

 

This is a pretty complete project LP-65 with the fuselage epoxy painted. Original engine and  Log Books back to 1942 and this plane was used by the Department of Defense from 1940-1942 so it has a little history as well.

My Porterfield is located at Chino Airport in Southern California even though I now live in Oshkosh, Wi.

Email me for details if you are interested at  porterfield1940@live.com

 
Jason Algra

 

 

 

As listed on www.barnstormers.com

 

 

DEPRESSION ERA CLASSIC • AVAILABLE FOR EXCHANGE • 1929 American Eaglet, Salmson 9AD powered, Airworthy condition.Trade for interesting classic. Chris 707 227 2111 • Contact Chris D. Prevost - VINTAGE AIRCRAFT CO, Owner - located Sonoma, CA USA • Telephone: 707 227 2111 . • Posted February 14, 2011 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad • Finance

 

 

 

• Posted by Mike Polley on January 3, 2011 at 9:38am
• I have come into possession of a number of parts for what I think belong to a CP-50 or CP-55.  I have a nose bowl, cowling, complete control stick assembly and lots of other misc parts.  If interested please contact me.

   

  PORTERFIELD PROJECT • $5,500 • FOR SALE • Porterfield Project: Frame bead blasted, epoxy paint. On wheels, tail surfaces covered, wings not covered but have new spars & ribs. Some instruments, all fittings. Can be Light Sport. @FFZ Mesa, AZ. Best offer... • Contact Max Bishop, Friend of Owner - located Chandler, AZ USA • Telephone: 480 201-6553 . • Posted October 25, 2011 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad • View Larger Pictures • Finance New Lower Rates!

  

   

   

• 1936 Porterfield For Sale

  • Posted by James J Dean on May 15, 2010 at 6:19pm

•  

• 1936 Porterfield 35-70 project 75% complete: wings, fuselege done, new windshield, new firewall, new stringers, seat upholstery completed, 70 hp Lablond Engline disassembled for rebuild. $15,200 obo. Contact me 919/775-7810 home, 919/708-2751 cell. Jimmy Dean

•  
  
  FOR SALE 1941 75C

  

  
  The excellent restoration of this stunning aircraft was completed in 2003. It is a rare model that will accept either the 75 HP Continental or the 90 HP Warner Round engine. This aircraft will turn heads and gather a crowd at the next fly in breakfast you take it too. Here is an excellent opportunity to own a Rare Classic. Delivery and Tailwheel endorsemnet can be arranged.
  
  Airframe:
  2065 Airframe Total Time. Excellent restoration. All Wood in Wings New. All steel parts inspected, media blasted, primed and painted in 2000. New Cables, New Hardware, New Fabric, New Paint, New New New. Probably nicer than when it was delivered new!
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Engine Specs:
  Continental A-75-8 125.0 SMOH in of 2003. Runs Fantastic, Sounds Great and Looks Stunning. New Old Stock (NOS) Cylinders at Engine Overhaul
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Prop(s):
  Mc Cauley Metal 2 blade. Custom Paint to match the airframe.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Avionics/Radios:
  Who is kidding who??? It is wired with an ELT and Push to Talks in the Sticks if you were so inclined to bring a portable com.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Exterior:
  Blue with a Silver Stripe on Cowl running back to the Tail. Covered using the Stits process in 2000.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Interior:
  Grey Leather Seats and Side Panels. Floorboards are a light Spruce.
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Inspection Status:
  Annual Due - October 2009
  
  Foothill Aircraft Sales
  Phone: (909)917-5851
  or (562)505-6518
  Fax: (909)920-0066
  
  For more info and pictures go to this link: http://www.controller.com/email.asp?emid=417043