Christen Industries

Christen Industries was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Hollister, California and Afton, Wyoming.

Christen Industries

Industry	Aerospace
Fate	Acquired by Aviat
Successor	Aviat
Founded	1972
Founder	Frank L. Christensen
Defunct	1991
Headquarters	Hollister, California , United States

A Christen A-1 Husky.

History

Founded in 1972, the company was created to manufacture the Christen Eagle, after designer Frank L. Christensen was unable to acquire the design rights to the Pitts Special.[1] Later that year, a three-man team from the company became the first American team to win the world aerobatic championship.[2] In 1983, the company announced that it acquired the design rights of the Laser 200 designed by Leo Loudenslager.[3]

In 1982, the company acquired Aerotek, moved to Afton, Wyoming and continued production of the Pitts Special alongside the Christen Eagle II kits.[4][5] The company then designed and manufactured the Christen Husky A-1 utility aircraft. In 1990, the company was the subject of a lawsuit claiming that the design of their aircraft was responsible for the death of a pilot.[6] Christen Industries was, in turn, bought by Aviat Aircraft, Inc. in 1991, who continued both product lines.[7][8]

Aircraft

Model name	First flight	Number built	Type
Christen Special			Single engine aerobatic biplane
Christen Eagle II	1977		Single engine aerobatic biplane
Christen Husky	1986		Single engine cabin monoplane

References

Notes

1. "Aviat Aircraft History". Aviat Aircraft. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
2. Leyde, Tom (27 September 1982). "Frank Christensen: His Plane Brought a World Cup to the U.S." Salinas Californian. p. 26A. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
3. "Convention and Fly-In Lured 120,000 Monday". Oshkosh Northwestern. 2 August 1983. p. 4. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
4. Bagne, Mark (1 April 1983). "Expensive 'Toys' Prove Profitable". Kilgore News Herald. UPI. p. 12. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
5. LeMaster, Susan (2 May 1981), "Afton's Ultimate 'Rich Man's Toy'", Wyoming Horizons, pp. 8–9
6. Cohen, Michael I. (17 April 1990). "Sprague Kin Sues Aircraft Dealer in Fatal Airplane Crash". The Transcript. p. 1. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
7. "Makers of Pitts Special Sell Intrests". Casper Star-Tribune. 13 June 1991. p. A11. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
8. Ifland, Jane (20 July 1991). "Can You Not Keep a Secret?". Casper Star-Tribune. p. 37. Retrieved 27 October 2020.

Bibliography

• Deutsch, Claudia H. (9 November 1987). "More Do-It-Yourself Fliers Build Own Airplanes". Sacramento Bee. p. C3. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
• "EDSB Should Reconsider Loan Denied Afton Plane Company, Eddins Says". Casper Star-Tribune. AP. 15 January 1988. p. B1. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
• Heller, Jean (13 July 1988). "Christen Toys Have Flyboys Flipping". Jackson Hole Guide. pp. C1, C3. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
• Gunston, Bill (1993). World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 78, 241.
• Leyde, Tom (8 September 1979). "Buy It, Build It, Fly It". Salinas Californian. pp. 29–30. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
• Leyde, Tom (4 September 1985). "Plane in a Kit". Santa Cruz Sentinel. pp. 19–20. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
• "Industry Thrives in High Mountain Valley". Casper Star-Tribune. 18 June 1989. p. B6. Retrieved 27 October 2020.

External links