Warbird Modification Companies

[Noha307]

I know we have lists of warbird restoration companies (1, 2), but I don't think I've ever seen a list of the companies that converted warbirds to commercial purposes in the postwar era. (Although thread on limited type certificates might be similar.) I started on one a while back, but never finished. Here's what I came up with:

• Aero Trader - A-26[1.1]
• AiResearch Aviation Service Division - B-26, DC-3[2][3]
• American Turbine Engine Company - Beechcraft Model 18
• Basler Turbo Conversions - DC-3
• Braddick Specialised Air Services[4]
• Bristol Airplane Company - Beechcraft Model 18
• Conrad International Corporation - Beechcraft Model 18[5]
• Conroy Aircraft - DC-3, G-111
• Cummins Engine Company, Inc. - DC-3[2]
• Dodson International Parts, Inc. - DC-3[6]
• Douglas Aircraft Company - DC-3[2]
• Dumod Corporation - Beechcraft Model 18
• Executive Aircraft Service - DC-3[2]
• Forest Protection Limited - TBM[7]
• Frakes Aviation - G-73[8]
• Grand Central Aircraft Company - A-26[1.2]
• Hamilton Aircraft Company - A-26, Beechcraft Model 18, T-28[9]
• Hayes Aircraft Corporation - B-25 (Note: Hayes never worked on civilian aircraft. However, the work they did on B-25s was similar enough that they are deserving of an honorable mention here.)
• Howard Aero Inc. - PV-1/2
• L. B. Smith Aircraft Corporation - A-26, DC-3[1.3][2]
• Lear Incorporated - Lockheed Model 18[10]
• Lockheed Air Service - A-26[1.4]
• Lynch Flying Service[1.5]
• Marsh Aviation - S-2
• Miner′s Aircraft & Engine Service, Inc. - DC-3[2]
• Neptune Aviation Services - P-2
• Oklahoma Aircraft Corporation - A-26[1.6]
• On Mark Engineering - A-26[1.7]
• Pacific Airmotive Corporation - Beechcraft Model 18
• Pan-American Airways - DC-3[2]
• R. G. LeTourneau, Inc. - A-26[1.8][1.9]
• Remmert Werner, Inc. - DC-3[2]
• Rhodes-Berry Company - A-26[1.10]
• Rock Island Oil & Refining Company - A-26[1.11]
• Scottish Aviation Limited - DC-3[2]
• Slick Airways - A-26[1.12]
• Skyway Air Services/Conair Aviation/Group - A-26, S-2, TBM[1.13][6.1]
• Trans Florida Aviation/Cavalier Aircraft - P-51
• Transair - DC-3[11]
• Transaire Spraying Company - PB4Y[12]
• Volpar - Beechcraft Model 18[13]
• Wold Engineering - A-26[1.14]

A couple of notes:

• The list is a bit inexact. For example, some of these companies may have only modified one or two airframes, while others were more prolific.
• Since a number of the companies above were aerial firefighting operations, it's worth mentioning two broader lists of companies (1, 2) from the Forest Protection Limited and A-26 websites.
• If someone could explain the difference between Cal-Aero, Pacific Airmotive, and Cal-Pacific Airmotive, I would be greatly appreciative! Their names are so similar I often get them confused. (I at least know they're not related to Pacific Aerospace.) On that note, is there a difference between the Aero Trader restoration business and the Aero Trader aircraft sales catalog?

I'm sure I missed a bunch, so please feel free to suggest more. I know you guys know 'em!

[JohnB]

I might be confusing it with Remmert Werner ...how about Lambert?
I flew in a DC-3 they converted from a C-47.
CORRECTION/UPDATE...Yes, Remmert-Werner was the DC-3 mod firm.

Aero Union...P-3.

Bird...PBY four engine conversion.

Kenmore...U-6

Mid-Continent...famous for Stearman AG conversions.

Recon Air...U-1, U-6

Swearingen... L-23/U-8s

Texas Turbine Conversions...U-1

TWA..C-82 and B-17.

To be thorough, you would almost have to list every outfit, large and small, which held an STC to convert warbirds to military use.
Someone held paperwork for everything from L-2s to UC-78s to B-17s.

Also, there is a very long list of organizations who modify and civilianize Warbird Helicopters.
off the top of my head...
Texas Helicopters did single seat AG conversions of H-13s,
Carson did/does H-3, Erickson CH-54s, Horizon H-43s, Hummingbird H-52s, Orlando Helicopters H-19s.
Even Bell is rebuilding surplus H-1s.

Last edited by JohnB on Mon Jan 24, 2022 12:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[exhaustgases]

What about outfits that have used warbirds for their business, like Hawkins and Powers, the Ice Pilots outfit, and some of the old Alaska cargo and fuel hauling places?

[DoraNineFan]

I don't see Cavalier Aircraft on the list, unless they are outside of the scope for the exercise.

[bdk]

Jack Conroy/Aerospacelines/Clay Lacy created the Guppy series of outsize 4-engined cargo aircraft converted from C-97s as well as civil Stratocruisers.

[Stoney]

Columbia Helicopters CH-46, CH47, CH64.

[Noha307]

I might be confusing it with Remmert Werner ...how about Lambert?
I flew in a DC-3 they converted from a C-47.

Sorry, I don't know a whole lot more about some of these companies other than the little I was able to find in the references. So, unfortunately, I can't answer that. If you could provide a little bit more background information I might be able to see what I could dig up. One thing that's helpful in these cases is if you include the full name of the company. (e.g. "Conrad International Corporation" instead of just "Conrad" or "Conrad International") I've found it makes narrowing down searches a lot easier and can avoid confusion with similarly named companies. (e.g. a hypothetical "Conrad International Company")

Also, there is a very long list of organizations who modify and civilianize Warbird Helicopters.

Good point. I didn't even think about helicopters.

I have to question Hummingbird (aka Vertical Aviation Technologies, Inc.) though. Aside from their initial prototype, are the airframes they use remanufactured or are they all new build? Also, did the conversions by Kenmore, Swearingen, Recon Air, and TTC involve actual military aircraft or just civilian models?

What about outfits that have used warbirds for their business, like Hawkins and Powers, the Ice Pilots outfit, and some of the old Alaska cargo and fuel hauling places?

I debated adding them as I was thinking more of companies that modified warbirds for sale rather than internal use. However, at the very least they're worth mentioning. After all, I did make an exception for Hayes. So go ahead and suggest 'em if you like. (For what it's worth, the Warbirds Directory has an extensive list of aerial firefighting companies.)

I don't see Cavalier Aircraft on the list, unless they are outside of the scope for the exercise.

Cavalier's there, it's just alphabetized under "Trans Florida Aviation".

Here's the list of additional suggestions:

• Aero Spacelines, Inc. - C-97
• Aero Union Corporation - P-3
• Bell Textron, Inc. - H-1
• Bird Oxygen Breathing Equipment, Inc. - PBY
• Carson Helicopters, Inc. - H-3
• Columbia Helicopters, Inc. - H-46, H-47, H-64
• Erickson Air-Crane Inc./Erickson Inc. - H-54
• Horizon Helicopters, Inc. - H-43
• Kenmore Air Harbor, Inc - U-6
• Mid-Continent Aircraft Corporation - PT-17/N2S
• Orlando Helicopter Airways, Inc. - H-19
• Recon Air Corporation - U-1, U-6
• Swearingen Aircraft - L-23/U-8
• Texas Helicopter Corporation - H-13
• Texas Turbine Conversions, Inc. - U-1
• Trans World Airlines - B-17, C-82

While researching the Bird Innovator, I ran into a company called Steward-Davis, Inc. that did the R-2600 Super Catalina conversions as well as C-119 jet pod installations. The Southern California Aircraft Corporation also converted PBYs to Landseaire "flying yacht" configuration.[1] Finally, a company called Wipaire, Inc. reportedly converted L-20s.[2]

[bdk]

Temco