Fletcher Aviation

The Fletcher Aviation Corporation was an aircraft manufacturer that was founded by three brothers, Wendell, Frank and Maurice Fletcher, 1941 in Pasadena, California. The company's original goal was to produce a wooden beginner trainer aircraft Fletcher FBT- 2, Wendell had designed. Lack of interest USAAF on this machine as a trainer aircraft, some as a radio-controlled target drones ( Fletcher PQ -11 ) was used. Following the move of the company after Rosemead, California began with the development of a family of aircraft, such as the Fletcher FU -24, an agricultural and multipurpose aircraft so far mainly by Pacific Aerospace in New Zealand about 296 aircraft were produced by the and still are.

1953, the same year launched the FU -24 made ​​its maiden flight, the company also presented the prototype before an amphibious vehicle as Fletcher flair. This car has been a 4-cylinder Porsche 356 driven motor, the drive train has been changed so that so that all four wheels of the vehicle could be driven. The company hoped to sell the vehicle of the U.S. Army, but benefits in the water were moderate, so that the army did not make any orders.

After the company was purchased by AJ Industries, he changed his name in Flair Aviation and produced from 1960 aircraft refueling equipment, including drop tanks and Schlauchaufrollen airborne refueling. After moving to El Monte, California, the name was changed back in Fletcher Aviation and in 1964 united with Sargent Fletcher before the aircraft was abandoned in 1966. The rights to the FU -24 went to the Pacific Aerospace.