Page 5 - July2020

Forgotten Cub Aircraft Hamilton wanted to expand its housing community onto the
A Brief History – Part 2 land occupied by the airport and there was no room for
needed runway expansions.
by Cameron Price
To make matters even worse for Cub Aircraft, 1947 saw their
first year of a financial deficit. Increased demand for civilian
aircraft was not to materialize, forcing Cub Aircraft to
broaden its manufacturing capabilities. This consisted of
manufacturing apartment size portable washing machines,
built under license from Cinderella Mfg. Co. Jackson
Michigan, venetian blinds and car radios built under license
from Wingard (M.A.) Ltd. Chichester England for imported
British automobiles.
Piper J-3 over Hamilton Beach
Before October 1945, Cub Aircraft was an Although Cub Aircraft continued to be manufactured at
assembly plant for Piper aircraft, made entirely Hamilton into late 1948, the decision was made around
from part kits imported from the U.S.A. In November 1946 to start using US Army surplus L4 fuselages
October 1945, the first post war Canadian civilian instead of the truss welded fuselages manufactured at the
aircraft was manufactured by Cub Aircraft Corp. Hamilton factory. Starting with aircraft 233C (and an earlier
Ltd. using 90% Canadian materials and 207C prototype) the model name was changed to the L-4B
components. Piper Aircraft specified that all Prospector. Without confirmed orders, many completed
tooling, drawings and modifications would Cub Aircraft were used in the flying school, such as 215C
originate from Lock Haven, so that parts on all until sold on May 7, 1947. 234C, a Cub Aircraft L-4B
Cubs, no matter where built, would be Prospector was put into storage for almost 3 years until a
interchangeable. Cub Aircraft would atttempt to buyer was found in September 1949.
source all parts within Canada unless it was not Desperate times meant desperate measures to try to save
economically or practically feasible. Cub Aircraft Cub Aircraft. On December 16, 1948, R. L. Gibson signed a
continued to assemble a few US suppliied Piper J- contract to acquire the manufacturing rights, tools and parts
3 kits and sold newer US pre-assembled models for Stinson aircraft from Consolidated Vultee Ltd. for an
like the Piper PA-11 and PA-12. astounding 3 million dollars. This might have been his last

On April 25, 1946 an explosion and fire at the act of defiance? Rumours surfaced and on February 21,
fabric and paint factory destroyed 3 aircraft, 1949, the Cub Aircraft Corporation Ltd. shareholders voted
including 160C and 161C. According to an eye- to change the company's name to Transvision-Television
witness account by an employee, Al Cooper, (Canada) Ltd. when it merged with General Radionics Ltd. In
nobody was injured, but he felt Cub Aircraft did the same factory where hundreds of Cub Aircraft were
not have adequate insurance to cover the expertly assembled and manufactured, it was now relegated
damages. A second fire at the re-built paint shop to manufacturing black and white television sets, car radios,
occurred on October 9, 1946. No aircraft were small washing machines and venetian blinds.
lost during the second fire; just several wings and Glenn R. White, flight instructor and test pilot at Cub Aircraft
other parts. The early morning blaze was took over all aircraft repairs, maintenance and issuance of C.
blamed on spontaneous combustion. of A. renewal certificates at the Trans Aircraft Company
Continued competition with the Hamilton Aero subsidiary.
(flying) Club and less than anticipated demand

for small civilian aircraft started to take its toll.
As well, the City of Hamilton realized that the

Cub Aircraft lease commitment was costing the
city much more in operating costs.