Vultee Aircraft

Vultee Aircraft, Inc.
Company type	Public
Industry	Aerospace manufacturing
Predecessor	Vultee Aircraft Division (AVCO subsidiary)
Founded	1939 in Los Angeles County, California, United States
Founder	Gerard "Jerry" Vultee (founder of predecessor company)
Defunct	March 1943
Fate	Merged with Consolidated Aircraft Corporation to form Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation (Convair)
Successor	Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation (Convair)
Headquarters	Los Angeles County, California, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Gerard "Jerry" Vultee (VP and chief engineer until 1938), Dick Palmer (design leader after 1938)
Products	Military and commercial aircraft including V-1, V-11, YA-19, BT-13/15 Valiant, P-66 Vanguard, Vengeance dive bomber
Parent	AVCO (until 1939), independent 1939–1943

Vultee Aircraft, Inc. was an American aerospace manufacturer established in 1939 in Los Angeles County, California. This occurred when the Vultee Aircraft Division, previously part of the AVCO holding company, was restructured into a standalone entity. The company remained active until March 1943, when it merged with Consolidated Aircraft Corporation to create Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, commonly known as Convair.

History

The Airplane Development Corporation was founded in 1932 by Errett Lobban Cord, providing Gerard "Jerry" Vultee the opportunity to design the Vultee V-1. Initial manufacturing took place in Burbank, California, with completion of early models at Grand Central Airport by early 1933.

Aviation Corporation subsidiary

After the Air Mail Act of 1934, AVCO acquired Cord’s interests, including Vultee’s company, and established the Aviation Manufacturing Corporation (AMC). AMC was dissolved in 1936 and succeeded by the Vultee Aircraft Division as an independent subsidiary within AVCO. Jerry Vultee held the roles of vice president and chief engineer. The division expanded its portfolio by acquiring assets such as Lycoming Engines and the Stinson Aircraft Company.

The V-1A, an improved version of the V-1, fulfilled American Airlines’ specifications, resulting in sales of eleven units. However, concerns regarding single-engine aircraft safety limited further orders. Production later shifted to Downey, California, where subsequent variants of the V-1 were manufactured.

In 1935, Vultee adapted the V-1A into a military model called the V-11, which attracted international buyers including Turkey (40 units), China (30 units), Brazil (25 units), and the Soviet Union (4 units plus a license for 31 additional aircraft). Following Jerry Vultee’s fatal aviation accident in 1938, the U.S. Army Air Corps commissioned seven YA-19s to establish a production relationship.

By 1937, Vultee operated a Downey facility with over $1 million worth of orders for both V-1 and V-11 aircraft.

After Jerry Vultee’s passing in January 1938, Dick Palmer assumed leadership of design efforts and oversaw development of significant military trainers such as the BT-13 and BT-15 Valiant models, along with production of the A-31/A-35 Vengeance dive bomber.

Independent company

In November 1939, Vultee Aircraft Division separated from AVCO to become an independent corporation. The P-66 Vanguard fighter program commenced in 1941 with Sweden as its intended customer; however, it ultimately served U.S., British, and Chinese forces with limited combat effectiveness. The XP-54 fighter represented Vultee’s last design project, with only two prototypes constructed.

The BT-13 emerged as a principal basic trainer during World War II, with production exceeding 11,000 units. Additionally, Vultee was among the first to employ women on assembly lines during wartime manufacturing.

Merger

On March 17–18, 1943, under AVCO ownership, Vultee merged with Consolidated Aircraft Corporation to form Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation (Convair). Following this consolidation, management from Vultee resigned.

Timeline

1929: Formation of Aviation Corporation (AVCO) holding company
1932: Gerard F. "Jerry" Vultee establishes Airplane Development Corporation; acquired by Errett Lobban Cord
1934: AVCO acquires Airplane Development Corporation; creates Aviation Manufacturing Corporation (AMC)
1936: AMC dissolved; Vultee Aircraft Division established as AVCO subsidiary
1939: Vultee Aircraft Division becomes independent as Vultee Aircraft, Inc.
1941: Consolidated Aircraft acquired by AVCO
1942: Acquisition of Intercontinent Aircraft Corporation by Vultee
1943: Formation of Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation (Convair) through merger
Postwar acquisitions lead Convair into General Dynamics ownership and eventually Boeing through later corporate mergers

Aircraft

Model designation	Maiden flight	Quantity produced	Category
V-1	1933	25	Single-engine commercial airliner
V-11 YA-19	1935	169	Single-engine ground attack aircraft
BT-13 & BT-15 Valiant	1939	11,538	Primary trainer aircraft
Vultee P-66 Vanguard	1939	146	Single-engine fighter plane
Vultee V-72 Vengeance	1941	1,931	Dive bomber aircraft

External links