"civilian" warplane manufacturers?

[JohnB]

Yes, the Caravan was a civil type....to replace 206s and 207s...and an eye towards Fed Ex. When it was first introduced, it seemed they all went to Fed Ex.

Surprised no one has mentioned the O-2, since unlike many if the civil to military types mentioned here (UC-78, etc) they were actually armed. In fact, the unarmed physiological-ops O-2Bs were unsold civil airframe bought back from dealers by Cessna to meet a govt. contract.

In that period, Beech did a prototype of an attack Bonanza 36 and Piper did a Cherokee Six. Of course, Beech did sell some QU-22s to the AF.

Shrike beat me to it, in the U.S. the Aryes and Air Tractors come to mind, though offensive capabilities are (I think) seen less than armoured versions necessary to spray chemicals on South American drug crops....some of the locals take exception to that, hence the need for armour plating.

Internationally, I'll also name the AN-2, I recently saw a photo of a North Korean variant firing air to ground missiles.

One obvious example is the Bell 47. Developed as a civil type (the "A" model with its Huey-like cabin, and convertible crop duster "B") it was later modified as a medical evacuation ship, and later armed as a very early gunship. While Bell figured they sell some to the military, it was designed for the civil market, big sales didn't occur to the military until after the Korean war began.

[quemerford]

And the U-2 started off as a "civilian" aircraft too!

[Michel Lemieux]

Manufacturer versus conversions.....pretty broad!

Who was responsible for the first DC-3 gunship conversions? Yes it did add ack-ack to the otherwise very civilian or military transport DC-3.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

The B-26K was far more than a "conversion." The fuselage and empennage were all virtually new-manufacture, the wing and wing spar were greatly strengthened, different engines gave a 1,000-hp (total) upgrade, and there was a lot of other work done.

But I think I have the answer to my original query. The Counter Invader, produced by a company that had never had a military contract before, is one of the very few warplanes produced by a civilian manufacturer that had a major combat role. Perhaps the only such airplane, since nobody has yet been able to come up with another contender. And if you people can't, I seriously doubt anybody else can.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

And the U-2 started off as a "civilian" aircraft too!

But from a military manufacturer.

[Dan K]

The B-26K was far more than a "conversion." The fuselage and empennage were all virtually new-manufacture, the wing and wing spar were greatly strengthened, different engines gave a 1,000-hp (total) upgrade, and there was a lot of other work done.

But I think I have the answer to my original query. The Counter Invader, produced by a company that had never had a military contract before, is one of the very few warplanes produced by a civilian manufacturer that had a major combat role. Perhaps the only such airplane, since nobody has yet been able to come up with another contender. And if you people can't, I seriously doubt anybody else can.

Well then, how about the J2F-6? All were built exclusively by Columbia Aircraft, which AFAIK had never received another military contract. Grumman had basically abandoned all further development of the type.

Mounting bomb racks and bristling with a single .30 cal Browning, the -6 was feared by sampans and mini-subs alike!

How's THAT for a major combat type?

[Stephan Wilkinson]

Works for me.

[JohnB]

Was Columbia responsible for the changes from The -5 to the -6...or did they just build it from A Grumman design?

If not, you might as well give GM credit for the FM and TBM.

[quemerford]

Stretching it a bit, but how about the Pereira Osprey, evaluated by the Navy as the X-28.

Must be that company's only foray into a military market?

[Chris Brame]

All were built exclusively by Columbia Aircraft, which AFAIK had never received another military contract.

They also got the contract to build the Grumman-designed XJL-1 amphibian, if two examples plus a static test airframe count.

[Woodsy Airfield]

I don't remember seeing Helio 'Currier' - U-10...

[TheBoy]

I agree that the OP's question is a little obtuse and difficult to define. I'll throw out WACO with the CG-4 troop glider. Pre WWII WACO did have a few small sales to random countries for various civil-to-military conversions, but the CG-4 was really their first big military deal. Before that is was almost exclusively civil customers. Yes, there was also the PT-14, but this was an outgrowth of the civil UPF and few PT-14's were made/sold.

[quemerford]

Last edited by quemerford on Mon Dec 12, 2016 3:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[quemerford]

I agree that the OP's question is a little obtuse and difficult to define.

The OP question seemed like it was framed to obtain the given answer, but the thread has become an interesting discussion nevertheless.

[menards]

I agree that the OP's question is a little obtuse and difficult to define.

The OP question seemed like it was framed to obtain the given answer, but the thread has become an interesting discussion nevertheless.

ESP when you lump the Cavalier F-51 in with the PA-48 Enforcer and call it "Piper and its Enforcers" when, in fact they were two entirely different airplanes. Cavalier (Trans-Florida?) had a DoD contract to export 20 military-spec F-51s to Bolivia, El Salvador and Indonesia. The Piper Enforcer was a turbine powered aircraft that the USAF simply chose not to buy (even though it performed well). What On-Mark Engineering was to the B-26 is was Cavalier was to the Mustang. They did the same thing. I even think Cavalier F-51s from el salvador saw service in the "Football War" if you need to lump the caveat that they had to "see combat" as well. I cant believe the OP called the Cavalier and the PA-48 an "unsuccessful program" and no one picked up on that.

The question is a non-sequitur anyways, because every contractor is a civilian contractor until they get their first government contract....