Culver Aircraft Company
 | |
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Dart Aircraft Company |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Founder |
|
| Defunct | 1946 |
| Successor | Superior Aircraft Company |
| Headquarters | Columbus, Ohio, Wichita, Kansas |
Number of employees | 130 (1941) |
The Culver Aircraft Company was a US-based producer of light airplanes active throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
History
Initially established as the Dart Manufacturing Corporation in Columbus, Ohio by Monocoupe distributor Knight K. Culver alongside Al Mooney, the firm acquired rights to the Mooney-designed Monosport G following the collapse of Lambert Aircraft Corporation. In 1939, the enterprise was rebranded as Culver Aircraft Company. That December, the company unveiled the Model L—later known as the Cadet—with production managed by Al Mooney’s brother, Art Mooney.
After manufacturing 50 units, Culver moved operations to Wichita, Kansas, where it introduced two retractable-gear variants: the LFA and LCA. In 1941, control shifted to Walter Beech (founder of Beechcraft) and Charles Yankey. Throughout World War II, Culver transitioned into subcontracting work, producing radio-controlled pilotless aircraft derived from the LFA model to serve as target drones. The USAAF and USN received over 3,000 units of the PQ-8/TDC and PQ-14/TD2C drones.
In 1945, leadership passed to T. Bowring Woodbury as president. That year saw the development of the Model V (M-17), which incorporated a patented Simpli-Fly Control system designed to automate flight controls; however, this innovation was met with poor pilot reception and failed commercially. The Model V was further adapted into the XPQ-15 drone but did not achieve production contracts. Financial struggles after the war led to bankruptcy; subsequently, the Mooney brothers departed to establish the Mooney Aircraft Company, and Culver’s manufacturing facility was purchased by the Coleman Company.
In 1956, Superior Aircraft Company acquired Culver’s assets and resumed manufacturing of the Model V under the name Superior Satellite.
Aircraft
}| Model name | First flight | Number built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dart G | 1938 | 50 | |
| Dart GC | 1939 | 10 | |
| Dart GK | 1938 | 25 | |
| Dart GW | 1939 | 8 | |
| Dart GW Special | 1939 | 2 | |
| Cadet LCA | 1939 | ||
| Cadet LFA | 1939 | ||
| Cadet LFA-90 | 1941 | ||
| LAR (Army A-8) | 1941 |