GH-3

The Howard GH‑3 was introduced in 1937 by the Howard Aircraft Corporation, an innovative American firm based in Chicago that had earned a reputation for reliable trainer and liaison planes. Developed in the late‑1930s to meet demand for a versatile, low‑cost aircraft suitable for civil utility work and limited military observation, the GH‑3 combined a streamlined low‑wing monoplane layout with a robust steel‑tube fuselage and fabric‑covered wings. Powered by a 165 hp Warner Scarab radial engine, it could cruise at 115 mph, carry three passengers, and operate from short, unimproved airstrips thanks to its fixed split‑type landing gear and high‑lift flaps. The aircraft’s simple all‑metal forward structure and interchangeable cockpit controls made maintenance straightforward, attracting flight schools, regional airlines, and the U.S. Army Air Corps for evaluation. Although only 112 GH‑3s were built before production ceased in 1941, the type demonstrated the viability of cost‑effective, multi‑role monoplane designs and influenced later post‑war utility aircraft such as the Cessna 140 series. Today, a handful of restored GH‑3s are prized by vintage collectors for their elegant lines and role in bridging the gap between biplane trainers and modern general‑aviation monoplanes.

Howard Aircraft Corporation

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Design & Classification