William T
Piper joined the board of directors of the Taylor Bros. Aircraft Co.
in the early 1920s and by 1929 was the principal investor.
In 1937, a fire in the original factory in
Bradford, Pennsylvania forced a move to Lock Haven. The
company was renamed the The Piper Aircraft Corporation.
Piper's modified Taylor Cub, the Piper J-3 Cub is
probably Piper's most famous aircraft.
After World War II, Piper expanded into twin
engine business aircraft and established an R&D facility at
Vero Beach, Florida.
The 1980s saw many general aviation manufacturers
with piston-engine aircraft production and Piper went out of business
in 1990. The New Piper Aircraft, Inc. was formed in
1995 using the assets of the old Piper company.
1948:
Piper acquires the Stinson Division of Consolidated Vultee.
