PORTERFIELD 65 “COLLEGIATE”€/90 “FLYABOUT”€

1935’€“39

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Porterfield Aircraft Corp., founded in 1934, began producing two-seat monoplanes in 1935, including the earlier 35-series.
  • The company introduced the CP-series in 1939, with designations like CP-65, where initials referred to engine type (Continental, Franklin, Lycoming) and numbers indicated horsepower.
  • The Collegiate CP-65 was the most popular of the two-seat training planes, and a significant number of these aircraft remain in flyable condition.
  • Porterfield models, such as the 65 Collegiate and 90 Flyabout, offered distinct performance capabilities, with higher horsepower engines yielding greater top speeds and climb rates.
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Porterfield 65 Collegiate

Porterfield 90 Flyabout
STANDARD DATA: (65) Seats 2. Gross wt. 1,200. Empty wt. 700. Fuel capacity 13. Engine 65-hp Continental.
PERFORMANCE: Top mph 108. Cruise mph 103. Landing mph 40. Initial climb rate 900. Range 325. Ceiling 16,000.

STANDARD DATA: (90) Seats 2. Gross wt. 1,326. Empty wt. 823. Fuel capacity 18. Engine 90-hp Warner Scarab Junior.
PERFORMANCE: Top mph 135. Cruise mph 120. Stall mph 40. Initial climb rate 1,050. Ceiling 20,000. Range 336.

The Porterfield Aircraft Corp. was founded in 1934 by E.E. Porterfield, once president of the American Eagle Aircraft Corp. In the following year, it began producing the Porterfield two-seat monoplane. Designations included the 35-70 (70-hp Le Blond), 35-90 (90-hp Warner Scarab Junior), 35-65 (65-hp engine), and 35-75 (75-hp engine). The company introduced the CP-series in 1939, which included the CP-50, CP-55, CP-65, FP-65, and LP-65. The initials refer to the type of engine—Continental, Franklin or Lycoming—and the numbers refer to the horsepower. The Collegiate CP-65 was the most popular of the series. A substantial number of these two-seat training planes are still in flyable condition.

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