Consolidated Aircraft
| Company type | Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Predecessor | Gallaudet Aircraft Company, Dayton-Wright Company (designs) |
| Founded | January 1, 1923 in Buffalo, New York, United States |
| Founder | Reuben H. Fleet |
| Defunct | 1943 |
| Fate | Merged with Vultee Aircraft to form Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft (Convair) |
| Successor | Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft (Convair) |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Reuben H. Fleet, Lawrence D. Bell, Edgar Gott, Victor Emanuel |
| Products | Aircraft (notably PBY Catalina, B-24 Liberator) |
| Owner | Aviation Corporation (subsidiary 1941–1943) |
Number of employees | 45,000 (1942) |
| Parent | Aviation Corporation (1941–1943) |
The Consolidated Aircraft Corporation was established in 1923 by Reuben H. Fleet in Buffalo, New York, following the dissolution of the Gallaudet Aircraft Company and the procurement of designs from the Dayton-Wright Company. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Consolidated expanded its share within the aerospace sector, particularly through its series of flying boats, most notably the PBY Catalina, which became a crucial asset for Allied forces during World War II. Another significant product was the B-24 Liberator, a heavy bomber extensively utilized in both the Pacific and European combat zones.
In 1943, Consolidated combined with Vultee Aircraft to create Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft, subsequently known as Convair. The company’s headquarters were located in San Diego, California, where it maintained a substantial manufacturing plant near Lindbergh Field (KSAN). Between 1941 and 1943, it operated as a subsidiary of the Aviation Corporation and owned Consairway, an airline subsidiary that facilitated military logistics.
History
The company's first product was the PT-1 Trusty trainer aircraft, which evolved from Dayton-Wright's TW-3 design and was supplied to the U.S. Army. In 1924, Consolidated moved to Buffalo, New York, securing a U.S. Navy contract for the NY-1 model. Lawrence D. Bell served as a key executive from 1929 until 1934 before departing to establish Bell Aircraft Corporation after Consolidated relocated to San Diego.
In 1935, Consolidated inaugurated a 247,000 square foot manufacturing facility in San Diego, marking a significant expansion of its production capacity. The inaugural PBY Catalina was produced there in 1936, followed by the XPB2Y Coronado in 1937. Vice president Edgar Gott was instrumental in obtaining the contract for the B-24 Liberator bomber; its prototype took flight in December 1939, with initial production orders placed by France in 1940.
To enhance defense manufacturing capabilities, Consolidated acquired Hall-Aluminum Aircraft Corporation in 1940, incorporating its technical personnel. By late 1941, the company had become San Diego’s largest employer with a workforce of approximately 25,000, which grew to 45,000 by 1942 due to increased wartime production demands.
In November 1941, Fleet divested his 34.26% ownership stake for $10.9 million to Victor Emanuel, president of Aviation Corporation (AVCO), paving the way for a merger between Consolidated and Vultee Aircraft. During World War II, Consolidated operated Consairway, an air transport service that supported Pacific military operations by transporting personnel, cargo, and aircraft—moving over 101 million tons of cargo and nearly 300 million passenger miles before ceasing operations in 1945.
The merger with Vultee in 1943 resulted in Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft (Convair), which later became part of General Dynamics in 1953. Convair continued aircraft manufacturing until its acquisition by McDonnell Douglas in 1994; production ended by 1996.
This corporate overview emphasizes Consolidated Aircraft’s growth driven by innovative products such as the PBY Catalina and B-24 Liberator, strategic acquisitions like Hall-Aluminum, and pivotal leadership choices that established its market position before transforming into Convair.
Aircraft
}| Model designation | Maiden flight | Quantity produced | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consolidated PT-1 Trusty | 1923 | 221 | Single-engine biplane trainer |
| Consolidated NY | 1925 | 302 | Single-engine biplane trainer |
| Consolidated PT-3 | 1927 | 250 | Single-engine biplane trainer |
| Consolidated O-17 Courier | 1927 | 35 | Single-engine biplane observation aircraft |
| Consolidated Commodore | 1928 | 14 | Twin-engine monoplane flying boat airliner |
| Consolidated P2Y | 1929 | 78 | Twin-engine monoplane flying boat patrol aircraft |
| Consolidated Fleetster | 1929 | 26 | Single-engine monoplane transport plane |
| Consolidated PT-11 | 1931 | 41 | Single-engine biplane trainer |
| Consolidated XB2Y | 1933 | 1 | Single-engine biplane dive bomber prototype |
| Consolidated P-30 | 1934 | 60 | Single-engine monoplane fighter aircraft |
| Consolidated PBY Catalina | 1936 | 1,871 | Twin-engine monoplane flying boat patrol bomber |
| Consolidated PB2Y Coronado | 1937 | 217 | Four-engine monoplane flying boat patrol bomber |
| Consolidated B-24 Liberator | 1939 | approximately 9,251 | Four-engine monoplane heavy bomber |
| Consolidated TBY Sea Wolf | 1941 | 180 | Single-engine monoplane torpedo bomber |
| Consolidated B-32 Dominator | 1942 | 118 | Four-engine monoplane heavy bomber |
| Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator | 977 | Four-engine monoplane patrol bomber | |
| Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express | 287 | Four-engine monoplane cargo aircraft | |
| "Consolidated C-109" | 218 | Four-engine monoplane cargo transport | |
| Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer | 1944 | 739 | Four-engine monoplane patrol bomber variant |