American Aviation

American Aviation Corporation was an American general-aviation aircraft manufacturer based in Cleveland, Ohio. Established in 1964, the company was created to bring a production version of the Bede BD-1, a compact two-seat light aircraft designed by Jim Bede, to the market. Its business was centered on relatively small, single-engine aircraft intended for flight training, personal transportation, recreational flying, and other general-aviation uses. The company's origins were closely tied to the BD-1 development program. The prototype first flew on July 11, 1963, but disagreements developed between Bede and other shareholders during the aircraft's development. In 1965, Bede was removed from the company, and Russ Meyer, an attorney and former Marine fighter pilot, became president at the age of 34. Under the reorganized company, the aircraft was substantially revised for series production rather than simply manufactured in its original prototype form. The production redesign received a longer fuselage, a larger wingspan, and a more powerful engine. American Aviation also used metal-to-metal bonding in the aircraft's construction, a technique that was relatively new in general aviation manufacturing at the time. The resulting aircraft was named the AA-1 Yankee. It first flew on March 2, 1967, and received Federal Aviation Administration type-certificate approval in July 1968. The two-seat Yankee became the company's principal identifiable product and represented an effort to combine compact dimensions, comparatively straightforward operation, and modern construction methods in a light aircraft. American Aviation did not remain independent for long. Grumman Corporation acquired an 80 percent interest in the company, and in 1972 the business was renamed Grumman American Aviation Corporation. The transaction ended American Aviation's existence as an independent corporate name, while the underlying aircraft program and associated general-aviation activities continued under Grumman's ownership. Later aircraft associated with the Grumman-American lineage should not automatically be attributed to American Aviation itself, since the canonical American Aviation company was the earlier Cleveland manufacturer and its documented production history is principally associated with the AA-1 Yankee. The brand is therefore best understood as a short-lived aircraft-manufacturing company rather than a continuing consumer-facing aviation brand. Its historical importance rests on commercializing the BD-1 concept, introducing the AA-1 Yankee, experimenting with bonded metal construction, and serving as the corporate predecessor to Grumman American Aviation. The company is defunct, and no current independent operations, website, or publicly listed securities are documented in the supplied reference material.

American Aviation Corporation was formed in 1964 in Cleveland, Ohio, to manufacture a production aircraft based on the Bede BD-1. The BD-1 was a two-seat light aircraft designed and built by Jim Bede, with the prototype making its first flight on July 11, 1963. The company was established around the commercial development of that aircraft and its entry into the general-aviation market. Development was complicated by disagreements between Bede and the company's other shareholders. In 1965, Bede was removed from the company. Russ Meyer, an attorney and former Marine fighter pilot, then became president at the age of 34. The change in leadership was followed by a substantial redesign of the BD-1 for production. Rather than reproduce the prototype unchanged, American Aviation lengthened the fuselage, increased the wingspan, and installed a larger engine. The company also introduced metal-to-metal bonding in the construction of the production aircraft, an approach that was innovative in the general-aviation field at the time. The redesigned aircraft was named the AA-1 Yankee. It first flew on March 2, 1967, and obtained FAA type-certificate approval in July 1968. The Yankee was a compact, two-seat, single-engine aircraft aimed at the practical light-aircraft market, including training, private flying, and recreational use. It became the principal aircraft associated with the American Aviation name. American Aviation's period as an independent manufacturer was brief. Grumman Corporation acquired an 80 percent share in the company, and in 1972 the company was renamed Grumman American Aviation Corporation. This change transferred the aircraft business into Grumman's organization and ended American Aviation's independent corporate identity. The aircraft lineage continued under the Grumman-American name, but subsequent Grumman-American products should be distinguished from the specific American Aviation company covered by this article. The company's historical significance comes from its role in moving the BD-1 concept into production, its development of the AA-1 Yankee, and its use of bonded-metal construction in a light general-aviation aircraft. American Aviation is now defunct, with its corporate history principally preserved through the aircraft and design lineage continued after the Grumman transaction.

1. 1972Renamed Grumman American Aviation Corporation

   Following Grumman's acquisition of an 80 percent interest, American Aviation is renamed Grumman American Aviation Corporation.

   Source
2. 1968FAA type-certificate approval

   The AA-1 Yankee receives Federal Aviation Administration type-certificate approval in July.

   Source
3. 1967AA-1 Yankee makes its first flight

   The redesigned production aircraft, named the AA-1 Yankee, makes its first flight on March 2.

   Source
4. 1965Leadership changes after shareholder conflict

   Jim Bede is removed from the company following disagreements with other shareholders, and Russ Meyer becomes president.

   Source
5. 1964American Aviation is formed

   American Aviation Corporation is established in Cleveland, Ohio, to develop a production version of the Bede BD-1 light aircraft.

   Source

A manufacturer of compact, modern light aircraft for flight training, personal transportation, recreational flying, and broader general-aviation use.

• AA-1 YankeeTwo-seat light single-engine aircraft1967

  The AA-1 Yankee was American Aviation's production development of the Bede BD-1 concept. It was a compact two-seat, single-engine aircraft intended for flight training, personal flying, recreational use, and other general-aviation roles. Compared with the BD-1 prototype, the production design used a lengthened fuselage, a larger wingspan, and a larger engine. American Aviation also employed metal-to-metal bonding in its construction, giving the aircraft a distinctive place in the development of modern light-aircraft manufacturing. The Yankee first flew in 1967 and received FAA type-certificate approval in 1968.

• 1972Accept Grumman majority ownership and rename the companyM&A

  American Aviation's independent corporate structure changed when Grumman Corporation acquired an 80 percent share.

  What changed. The company was renamed Grumman American Aviation Corporation and its aircraft activities continued under the Grumman organization.

  Aftermath. American Aviation ceased to operate as an independent corporate name, while its aircraft lineage continued within Grumman American Aviation.

  Source
• 1965Redesign the BD-1 for productionStrategy

  The company needed to turn the BD-1 prototype into a commercially manufacturable general-aviation aircraft after a change in leadership and internal shareholder conflict.

  What changed. American Aviation revised the design with a longer fuselage, larger wingspan, and larger engine, and adopted metal-to-metal bonding in the production structure. The aircraft was renamed the AA-1 Yankee.

  Aftermath. The redesigned aircraft first flew in 1967 and secured FAA type-certificate approval in 1968, becoming the main product associated with American Aviation.

  Source

• 1972American Aviation becomes Grumman American Aviation Corporation

  After Grumman acquired an 80 percent interest in American Aviation, the company was renamed Grumman American Aviation Corporation.

  M&ALeadership change
  Source

1. American Aviation
2. Grumman, Grumman-American – Aerofiles