Piper Aircraft Corporation
Lock Haven, Clinton County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Founded as Taylor Bros. in 1927. In the 1930s William T. Piper purchased the company and moved it to Lock Haven in 1937, rebranding as Piper Aircraft Corp. Employed more than 2,000 people at its height. Manufactured nearly 77,000 general aviation aircraft here, include-ing 20,000 J-3 Cubs, Piper's most popular model. In WWII, thousands of modified Cubs, known as L-4 Grasshoppers, served to train pilots and provide reconnaissance.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
What began as the Taylor Brothers company in 1927 became an American aviation giant after William T. Piper bought the firm and moved it to Lock Haven in 1937. At its height Piper Aircraft employed more than 2,000 people and built nearly 77,000 general-aviation planes here, including some 20,000 of the iconic yellow J-3 Cub. During World War II, thousands of Cubs were adapted into L-4 Grasshoppers that trained pilots and flew reconnaissance for the U.S. Army.
Why it matters
Piper's inexpensive, easy-to-fly Cubs democratized flight for ordinary Americans and served the nation in wartime, making Lock Haven a cradle of general aviation.
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Related people
- · William T. Piper
Themes & tags
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