Globe Aircraft Corporation

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The Globe Aircraft Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer formed in 1940 in Fort Worth, Texas. It was declared bankrupt in 1947.[2]

Globe Aircraft Corporation
FormerlyBennett Aircraft Corporation
IndustryAerospace
Founded5 April 1940 (1940-04-05)
Founders
  • Frank W. Bennett
  • F. C. "Bub" Merrill
Defunct1947 (1947)
FateBankrupt
SuccessorTemco Aircraft
Headquarters,
United States
Key people
  • William G. Fuller
  • John Kennedy[1]

History

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The Bennett Aircraft Corporation was originally formed on 5 April 1940 to develop aircraft using a Bakelite bonded plywood Duraloid.[2][3] The company's first design was the BTC-1 twin engined monoplane.[2] The company was renamed the Globe Aircraft Corporation in 1941 and they produced a single-engined Continental A-80 powered Globe GC-1 Swift.[2]

With the start of the war the company abandoned plans to produce the aircraft as it concentrated on sub-contract building of 600 Beech AT-10s[4] and components for other aircraft like the Curtiss C-46.[2]

When wartime restrictions were removed the company developed a re-designed and all-metal version of the GC-1 designated the GC-1A Swift which first flew in 1945.[2] The production of the Swift was sub-contracted to the Texas Engineering and Manufacturing Company (TEMCO).[2] In July 1947 the company was declared bankrupt; the assets and design rights of the Swift were bought by TEMCO.[2]

Aircraft

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Globe KD6G-2 Firefly
Model nameFirst flightNumber builtType
Bennett BTC-119401Twin engine transport
Globe GC-1 Swift19411,521Sport airplane
Globe AT-10 Wichita1943600Twin engine trainer
Globe KDG Snipe1946Target drone
Globe KD2G Firefly1946Target drone
Globe KD3G Snipe1946Target drone
Globe KD4G Quail1949Target drone
Globe KD5G1950Target drone
Globe KD6G Firefly1951Target drone

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Klein, Kenneth (8 October 2002). "John Kennedy and the Globe Aircraft Co". Rootsweb. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson 1991, p. 160
  3. ^ Pate, J'Nell L. (2011). Arsenal of Defense: Fort Worth's Military Legacy. Denton: Texas State Historical Association. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-87611-249-6. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  4. ^ Andrade 1979, p. 41

Bibliography

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  • Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
  • Simpson, R.W. (1991). Airlife's General Aviation. England: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-194-X.
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