Aeronca C-2

The Aeronca C‑2, nicknamed the “Flying Bathtub,” was introduced in 1929 as the United States’ first truly inexpensive light airplane. Designed by the Aeronautical Corporation of America (Aeronca), it emerged during a period when private aviation was limited to wealthy enthusiasts, yet the C‑2’s modest 26‑horsepower Aeronca E‑Engine and simple construction made ownership possible for modest incomes during the Great Depression. Built with a welded steel‑tube fuselage, fabric covering, and an open‑cockpit high‑wing layout, the aircraft weighed barely 500 pounds empty and could be assembled with basic tools, allowing owners to service it themselves. Its fixed, wide‑track landing gear and uncomplicated control system contributed to forgiving flight characteristics, making the C‑2 an ideal trainer for novice pilots. Only about 350 units were produced, but the model’s impact was disproportionate: it demonstrated that safe, affordable flight was feasible, spurring a surge in sport and general‑aviation aircraft designs throughout the 1930s. The C‑2 thus earned a lasting place in aviation history as a catalyst for democratizing flight and laying the groundwork for today’s light‑sport aircraft market.

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