Aeronca History: Founded in 1928 as the Aeronautical Corporation of America at Lunken Field in Cincinnati, Aeronca was the first U.S. Company to produce and market a truly light airplane for the general aviation market. The Aeronca C-2 aircraft opened up flying to the public and helped make the company a major force in the general aviation market.

The company, which moved operations to its current location in Middletown, Ohio in 1940 and changed its name to Aeronca in 1941, continued to grow.

During WWII Aeronca provided the military with versions of several of its popular aircraft. The Aeronca Grasshopper, a light liaison and observation monoplane saw extensive duty in all theaters of operations.  Aeronca also manufactured hundreds of trainers and gliders for the war effort.

During the Post-War era Aeronca was a major participant in the general aviation boom. Between 1945 and 1950, thousands of Aeronca aircraft, including the popular Champ, the Chief and Super Chief, the Defender and the Arrow, a low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear, were manufactured, with production reaching a peak of 50 aircraft per day. The production of light aircraft ceased at Aeronca in 1951. In the span of 23 years of aircraft production there were a total of 17,408 airplanes of some 55 different models rolled off Aeronca assembly lines.

The legacy of the pioneering aircraft produced by Aeronca continues for thousands of vintage aircraft owners and fanciers. Enthusiasts and their aircraft gather biannually in Middletown at Hook Field, adjacent to the Aeronca manufacturing facility, for the National Aeronca Association convention and fly-in. Additionally, millions have seen the Aeronca C-2 aircraft on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Following the downturn that was experienced by the general aviation industry in the late 1940s, Aeronca assumed a role as pioneer in the fields of bonding and brazing of honeycomb and other heat-resistant structures for the aerospace industry. The techniques for manufacturing temperature resistant, brazed honeycomb structures developed by Aeronca won the contract for the Apollo command module and Aeronca manufactured nearly all of the outer structure of the spacecraft. The high-temperature resistance characteristic of these structures was proven with the successful re-entry of all of the Apollo missions.

Aeronca Today: Today Aeronca is a major supplier of engine and nacelle components, aero-structures, and missile control surfaces for the military and for original equipment manufacturers in the United States and Europe, as well holding STC and PMA certificates for replacement cowl door structures for Boeing 737 -300, –400 and -500 aircraft.  Aeronca also maintains FAA Certified Repair Station facilities for aftermarket support of its manufactured products. 

Located near U.S. Interstate 75, midway between Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, Aeronca sits on 18 acres of land adjacent to Middletown’s Hook Field. The plant itself encompasses 200,000 square feet of manufacturing, engineering and administrative office space. To pursue its mission of

producing complex aerospace structures, Aeronca utilizes CATIA based CAD/CAM equipment for design and manufacture of its product. The ability to provide design, testing and certification of new components is highly valued by Aeronca’s customer base.