Christen Industries: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox company

| name = Christen Industries

| logo =

| logo_caption =

| logo_alt =

| type =

| industry = [[Aerospace]]

| fate = Acquired by [[Aviat]]

| predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = -->

| successor = [[Aviat]]

| founded = {{Start date|1972}}

| founder = [[Frank L. Christensen]]

| defunct = {{End date|1991}}

| hq_location_city = [[Hollister, California]]

| hq_location_country = United States

| area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = -->

| key_people =

| products =

| owner = <!-- or: | owners = -->

| num_employees =

| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->

| parent =

| website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} -->

}}

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

==History==

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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Aviat Aircraft History |url=http://aviataircraft.com/aviat-aircraft-history |website=Aviat Aircraft |access-date=26 October 2020}}</ref> Later that year, a three-man team from the company became the first American team to win the world aerobatic championship.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leyde |first1=Tom |title=Frank Christensen: His Plane Brought a World Cup to the U.S. |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/520754357 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Salinas Californian |date=27 September 1982 |page=26A}}</ref> In 1983, the company announced that it acquired the design rights of the Laser 200 designed by [[Leo Loudenslager]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Convention and Fly-In Lured 120,000 Monday |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/247900685 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Oshkosh Northwestern |date=2 August 1983 |page=4}}</ref>

In 1982, the company acquired [[Aerotek (Wyoming)|Aerotek]], moved to [[Afton, Wyoming]] and continued production of the [[Pitts Special]] alongside the [[Aviat Eagle II|Christen Eagle II]] kits.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bagne |first1=Mark |title=Expensive 'Toys' Prove Profitable |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/612409209 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Kilgore News Herald |agency=UPI |date=1 April 1983 |page=12}}</ref><ref>{{citation |last1=LeMaster |first1=Susan |title=Afton's Ultimate 'Rich Man's Toy' |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/446366991 |work=Wyoming Horizons |date=2 May 1981 |pages=8–9}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cohen |first1=Michael I. |title=Sprague Kin Sues Aircraft Dealer in Fatal Airplane Crash |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/545575843 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=The Transcript |date=17 April 1990 |page=1}}</ref> Christen Industries was, in turn, bought by [[Aviat|Aviat Aircraft, Inc.]] in 1991, who continued both product lines.<ref>{{cite news |title=Makers of Pitts Special Sell Interests |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/349572708 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |date=13 June 1991 |page=A11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ifland |first1=Jane |title=Can You Not Keep a Secret? |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/349935745 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |date=20 July 1991 |page=37}}</ref>

==Aircraft==

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Model name

! First flight

! Number built

! Type

|-

|align=left| [[Pitts Special|Christen Special]]

|align=center|

|align=center|

|align=left| Single engine aerobatic biplane

|-

|align=left| [[Christen Eagle II]]

|align=center| 1977

|align=center|

|align=left| Single engine aerobatic biplane

|-

|align=left| [[Christen Husky]]

|align=center| 1986

|align=center|

|align=left| Single engine cabin monoplane

|-

|}

===Notes===

{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===

{{Refbegin}}

* {{cite news |last1=Deutsch |first1=Claudia H. |title=More Do-It-Yourself Fliers Build Own Airplanes |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/623765401 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Sacramento Bee |date=9 November 1987 |page=C3}}

* {{cite news |title=EDSB Should Reconsider Loan Denied Afton Plane Company, Eddins Says |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/349572688 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |agency=AP |date=15 January 1988 |page=B1}}

* {{cite news |last1=Heller |first1=Jean |title=Christen Toys Have Flyboys Flipping |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/317408627 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Jackson Hole Guide |date=13 July 1988 |pages=C1, C3}}

* {{cite book |last1=Gunston |first1=Bill |title=World Encyclopedia of Aircraft Manufacturers |year=1993 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis |pages=78, 241}}

* {{cite news |last1=Leyde |first1=Tom |title=Buy It, Build It, Fly It |url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/520584092 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Salinas Californian |date=8 September 1979 |pages=29–30}}

* {{cite news |last1=Leyde |first1=Tom |title=Plane in a Kit |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/62898264 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Santa Cruz Sentinel |date=4 September 1985 |pages=19–20}}

* {{cite news |title=Industry Thrives in High Mountain Valley |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/348866595 |access-date=27 October 2020 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |date=18 June 1989 |page=B6}}

{{Refend}}