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Christen Industries

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Christen Industries
IndustryAerospace
Founded1972 (1972)
FounderFrank L. Christensen
Defunct1991 (1991)
FateAcquired by Aviat
SuccessorAviat
Headquarters,
United States
A Christen A-1 Husky.

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

History

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Founded in 1972, the company was created to manufacture the Christen Eagle, designed by Frank L. Christensen after he 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

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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

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Notes

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  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 Interests". 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

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