REVISED: 4/26/08

Aeromarine, Aeromarine-Klemm, Uppercu

1908: Aeromarine Corp, Avondale NJ. 1914: Aeromarine Plane & Motor Co (fdr: Inglis M Uppercu); 1917: Keyport NJ. 1920: Aeromarine West Indies Airways Inc, Key West FL. 1921: Became distributing agent for $4 million surplus USN aircraft and motors. 1924: Ended aircraft operations, and established Healey-Aeromarine Bus Co, Nutley NJ. 1928: Aircraft production as (Frank) Boland Aeroplane Co, Newark NJ; acquired manufacturing rights to Klemm L.25 and the name, Aeromarine-Klemm, came into use. 1929: Aeromarine reorganized as Aeromarine Klemm Corp, Keyport NJ. 1931: Receivership (assignor W L Dill), with employees reorganizing as Aeromarine Plane & Motor Co. 1935: Assets sold to Burnelli Aircraft Corp. 1936: Engine rights sold to Lenape Aircraft & Motors Inc, Matawan NJ. 1937: Design briefly revived by Keane Aircraft Co, Keyport.

  Aeromarine Flying Boat (Aerial Age via Joe Martin)

c.1909 = Aeromarine's first effort, a 1p canard pusher flying boat. No information found.

1923 = 1pOB; 400hp Liberty 12. Paul Zimmerman. Mail carrier with an all-metal fuselage covered with sheet aluminum, the first of its kind in the US. POP: 1. Possibly was AM-1.
  Aeromarine 8 (Aviation via Joe Martin)

8 c.1910 = 2pOB; pusher motor. Canard stabilizers with twin rudders between the wingtips.
20 1918 = 2-4pOBFb; pusher motor. Charles Willard.
  Aeromarine 39-A (Leo Opdyke coll)

39-A 1917 = USN scout and trainer. 2pOB (land and seaplane); various motors: Aeromarine, Beardmore, Hisso, OX-5, OXX-6; span: 47'0" length: 30'4" v: 72. POP: 50 with 100hp Hall-Scott A-7 [A450/499]. Purchased by USN for $9,688, sold surplus in 1921 for $1,500, reduced to $800 in 1928; about 30 of these were located in registers.
  Aeromarine 39-B (Peter M Bowers coll)

39-B 1921 = 100hp Curtiss OXX; span: 47'0" length: 30'5" v: 68. First airplane to make a landing aboard what could be called an aircraft carrier (USS Langley) on 10/26/22 (p: LtCdr Godfrey Chevalier). $9,650; POP: 150 [A500/649].

Photo is of a 39B probably contract-built for USN during WW1. The float bracing arrangement (possibly to facilitate torpedo or bomb carriage), aileron shape, kingpost wing supports, and trestle cabane combine to virtually guarantee this ID. On the other hand, Aeromarine 39s seem to have been powered by a bewildering series of engines, including some of Aeromarine's own. I'm not sure if this powerplant is one of theirs, a Curtiss OX, a Hispano, or something else. (-- Bill Devins 2/4/01)

39-R 1921 = $10,300; POP: 14.

  Aeromarine 40-B (Rob Osborne coll)

40, 40-B Sport Seaplane 1919 = 2pOBFb; 150hp Hisso pusher; span: 48'4" length: 28'11" v: 85/x/30. $9,000. POP: ?? [297, 910V, 5018, et al].
40-C 1918 = 150hp Aeromarine U-8.

  Aeromarine 40-F [A-5066] (USN)

40-F 1919 = USN trainer. 100hp Curtiss OXX-6 pusher; span: 48'6" length: 28'11" v: 71. Side-by-side cockpit. $8,100; POP: 50 [A5040/5089].

  Aeromarine 40-L (Paul Matt via Avn Heritage)

40-L 1918 = Civil sport with 130hp Aeromarine L pusher; load: 560# v: 80/x/30.

40-T 1919 = Civil sport with 100hp Curtiss OXX-6 pusher.

40-U 1919 = Civil sport with Aeromarine U-6D pusher

43-L, 44-L 1922 - 3-4pOBFb(?); Aeromarine L-6D or U-6D pusher. Experimental passenger ship designs, not built.
50 aka Limousine Flying Boat 1919 = 3pO-CBFb; 150hp Hisso A pusher; span: 48'6" length: 28'11".
50-B 1919 = 180hp Aeromarine U-8 (?>B-8) pusher and enclosed cockpit.

  Aeromarine 50-C (Rob Osborne coll)

50-C 19?? = No data.

50-L 19?? = No data.

  Aeromarine 50-U8D 3-view (1922 Aircraft Year Book)

50-S aka 50-U8D 1919 = All-metal fuselage; 180hp Hisso or Aeromarine U-8D pusher. POP: ?? [2990, 7691, et al]. Airline service NYC-Atlantic City.

  Aeromarine 52 3-view (1922 Aircraft Year Book)

52 1921 = 3pCBFb version of 50 with Aeromarine U-8D pusher; span: 48'6" length: 28'11".
55-L8 1922 = 52 with Aeromarine U-8D pusher.
60 1923 - 5pCBFb; two 180hp Hisso or Aeromarine U-8D pushers; span: 55'6"-55'9" length: 31'9". Two passenger ship designs, one unbuilt and one possibly built, but not flown.
  Aeromarine 75 Columbia (clip: Aviation)
75 aka Navy Flying Cruiser 1920 = 12pCBFb; two 420hp Liberty 12A; span: 103'9" length: 49'4" v: 89; ceiling: 11,500'. POP: 2 conversions of surplus USN Curtiss F-5Ls (actually ex-RAF Felixstowe F.5Ls) for service with Aeromarine Airways Inc between New York City and Atlantic City NJ. Additionally, several ex-USN Curtiss HS-2L flying boats joined the expanding Aeromarine fleet in 1921.
80 Aerial Cruiser 1920 = Civil transport modified from Curtiss HS-2L. 6pCBFb; 425hp Liberty 12A pusher; span: 74'0" length: 38'6".
85 Ambassador 1920 = 80 with increased gross weight.
700 1918 = USN twin-float torpedo plane. 3pOBF; 90hp Aeromarine 6. POP: 2 [A142/143].
AM-1 Mail Plane 1923 = 1pOB; 400hp Liberty 12; span: 50'0" length: 32'11" load: 1575# v: 116/x/44. Paul Zimmerman. POP: 1. Designed to be a replacement for de Havilland DH-4 in mail and cargo duties, but test flights were disappointing, and nagging stability problems brought an end to the project.
  Aeromarine AM-2 (Aviation via Joe Martin)
  Aeromarine AM-2 3-view (Aviation via Joe Martin)

AM-2, -3 Night Mail Carrier c.1923 = Similar to AM-1, but radiator relocated beneath the engine. AM-3 had radiator moved in front of the engine, like DH-4; fuel tanks on upper wing moved to inside fuselage. POP: 1 each.
  Aeromarine AMC and its famous hull (Aviation via Joe Martin)
  Aeromarine AMC 3-view (Aircraft Year Book)

AMC 1923 = 7-9pOswBF; 400hp Liberty 12 pusher; span: (upper) 65'0" (lower) 48'7" length: 32'10" load: 2440# v: 98/80/50 ceiling: 14,000'; ff: 6/1/23. Range varied with passenger load. Spruce I-beam spars and ribs, dural-framed empennage; fabric-covered wings and tail; all-duraluminum hull. Designed to replace the aging 75s of Aeromarine Airways. AMC = "Aeromarine Metal Commercial."
  Aeromarine AMC? (Aviation via Joe Martin)

Long before Macintosh and Photoshop, this bit of "creative enhancing" asks more than it tells. It could be a short-wing version of AMC, dubbed Morro Castle II, but its placement in an Egyptian setting is a mystery—perhaps for an ad with a relevant headline. The plane appears to be pasted on the background—a small seam below the rudder hinge is visible. If it is supposed to be landing, it is doomed. The prop is stopped and the pilot sits on the coaming away from the controls, which are set for a severe left hand dive into the Nile, or whatever. It could be slung from a crane or gantry with the ropes retouched out, but if some viewer has info of what this was all about, we would appreciate learning of it. (— K O Eckland 3/4/03)
  Aeromarine AS-1 [A-5612] (NASA)
  Aeromarine AS-2 [A-5613] (1922 Aircraft Year Book)

AS-1, -2 1920 = USN scout-observation. 2pOBF; 300hp Hisso; span: 37'6" length: 30'6" v: 117 ceiling: 16,000'. Twin floats. $18,450; POP: 1 AS-1 [A5612], 2 AS-2 in 1921 [A5613/5614].
BM-1 Mail Plane 1924 - 1pOB; 400hp Liberty 12; span: 47'0" length: 22'0". Scheduled, but not built. Some sources claim one built, but unregistered.
CO-L 1924 - Army observer. 2pOB; 400hp Liberty 12;span: 39'0" length: 28'0". None built.
  Aeromarine DH-4B Wright Field P-292 [AS22-1128]

DH-4B 1918 = Contract-built British de Havilland scout-observation. POP: 125.
  Aeromarine EO (Aviation via Joe Martin)

EO 1924 = 3pOBFb; 80hp Anzani 6-A3; span: (upper) 38'0" (lower) 34'0" length: 25'2". Earl D Osborne. Aluminum hull. POP: 1 [784]; a reported second one might have only been a modification to a larger fin, and with increased dihedral. Details on this one are quite fuzzy. [1791], registered as a 1924 Anzani-powered Aeromarine biplane (no mention of floats), license applied for Sep 1927, is noted as sold to EDO Corp in Apr 1924 (it is thought this aircraft had an original IMA registration [747]). A second, [1791], shows a 1926 semi-cantilever 4pOhw MFb EDO Model B, also with 80hp Anzani, license also applied 9/14/27, but is said to have first had IMA [32], later changed to [598] for unstated reasons. If this wasn't bad enough, in response to a 1928 CAA inquiry, EDO replied they had no airplane registered [1791], only two flying boats, [32] and [784], but the latter is in registers both as Aeromarine-Klemm EO and EDO Seaplane. It didn't help when c/n 10068 was arbitrarily reassigned in 1929 by its purchaser, American Aeronautical Corp, to replace Aeromarine's c/n 1, and a 90hp Kinner installed, to become [NC784]. Wherever the path of EO went, it eventually led to its demise in a crash at Cape May NJ on 12/15/31.
  Aeromarine HS (1922 Aircraft Year Book via Joe Martin)

HS 1921 = Aeromarine conversion of surplus Curtiss HS-2L open cockpit flying boat, using the wings and engine structure with an Aeromarine hull. POP: possibly only one. Lady Baltimore II pictured here was the short-lived Easter Airways' plane, displaying part of a commercial "FOR NEURALGIA" message on the underside of its top wing... an additional source of revenue.
L-20 (Boland ) 1928 = 2pOlwM; 20hp Mercedes; span: 38'0" v: 80/66/20. Hans Klemm (Germany), from his 1923 design, Klemm-Daimler L.20 (aka D-M-G L.20). All-wood construction, part fabric-covered wing. Pivoting wingtips for ailerons, later replaced by conventional ailerons. POP: 1 for design evaluation [867W]. Others registered under the Klemm title [eg: 4919, 4920], with Mercedes motors, are probably German imports of an earlier date.
L-25 (Boland ) 1928 = 2pOlwM; 40hp Salmson AD-9. Hans Klemm, from his German powered glider design, L.25. POP: 1 prototype [possibly 628], plus several registered as Leicht-flugzeugbau L-25 [10051, et al]. Design became production Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-25-A.
LDB 1923 - Army bomber design with 115'0" wing and 65'0" airfoil fuselage. Two designs, but neither known built.
  Aeromarine M-1 (Leo Opdyke coll)

M-1 1917 = Advanced trainer. 2pOB; Hall-Scott A-7A; span: 37'3" length: 25'11". POP: 6 [AS265/270].
Messenger 1924 = 1pOB; Lawrance L-4; span: 20'0" length: 17'9". Experimental variable-chord wings. POP: 1.
NBS-1 1921 = Contract-built Martin MB-2. POP: 25 [22-201/225].
  Aeromarine PG-1 [AS64245] (Leo Opdyke coll)

PG-1 1922 = Army ground-attack pursuit. 1pOB; 330hp Wright K-2, later 350hp Packard 1A-1237; span: (upper) 40'1" (lower) 37'2" length: 24'6" load: 888# v: 130/124/58 range: 195 ceiling: 17,000'; ff: 8/22/22. Built by Engineering Division and Boeing, it had a 37mm cannon in its propshaft and lots of armor plate. Ultimately rejected because of pilot's lack of forward visibility. POP: 3 [AS64245/64247], the first to McCook Field as project P-240. The only pursuit aircraft with a "PG" designation, which was later transferred to the Powered Glider category.
Sea Scout c.1922 = USN 1pOBF. No data, possibly rejected by Navy.
Seaplane c.1916 = USN; no data. POP: 3 [A439/441].
Sportsman 1917 = 2pOB; 100hp Aeromarine V-8; span: 47'0" length: 26'8" load: 700# v: 78/x/48. Vincent Burnelli. Civil version of Aeromarine 39-B. POP: 1. Refitted with floats, it made the first aerial delivery of mail to a ship at sea on 8/14/19.
Type XII Night Bomber 1924 - OB; four engines in push-pull configuration. Not built.
Type XIII Night Bomber 1924 - 4pOhwM; two 350hp "Model W" engines; span: 115'0" length: 65'0" load: 12,250# v (est): 95/x/55. Airfoil-shaped fuselage. Not built.
WM 1922 = 1pOB; 400hp Liberty 12. Reported experiment with variable-camber wing using a De Havilland 4B. Uncertain if actually flown.

Aeromarine-Klemm

  Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-25A [NC164H] (K O Eckland coll)

AKL-25, AKL-25A aka L-25A 1928 (ATC 121, 2-47, 2-87) = 2pOlwM; 40hp Salmson AD-9; span: 40'2" length: 24'6" load: 510# v: 85/75/35 range: 325. $3,350; POP: about 60, of which some were converted to AKL-26A. (2-47) for production AKL-25A superseded by (121); (2-87) for EDO twin-float conversion. AKL-25 made its public debut at the 1928 Nationals where, with its gliderlike characteristics, it handily won the dead-stick landing contests.
AKL-26 1930 (ATC 203, 2-111) = 2pOlwM; 65hp LeBlond 5D; span: 40'2" length: 23'6" load: 595# v: 93/80/38 range: 325. $3,500; $4,500 as a floatplane; POP: about 10, including 3 AKL-60 prototypes, and one as AKL-26 Special. (2-111) for twin-float modification.
  Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-26A on pontoons [NC199M] (Dan Shumaker coll)

AKL-26A 1929 (ATC 204, 2-466) = Extra fuel tank; load: 565# v: 93/80/40 range: 480. $3,550; POP: about 40, of which at least 1 was refitted with 80hp Genet [NC163M]. (2-466) in 1934 for Kantner twin-float conversion [159M]; aka Uppercu AKL-26A.

  Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-26B [N870W] (Frank Rezich & John Diele colls)

AKL-26B aka AKL-85, Model 85 Flyer 1930 (ATC 334, 2-467) = 85hp LeBlond 5DF; span: 40'2" length: 23'6" load: 574# v: 97/85/40 range: 385. $3,700, $3,300 in 1931; $4,700 as floatplane. POP: at least 14, of which some were converted to AKL-27.

  Aeromarine-Klemm AKL-26X [X15640] (Frank Rezich coll)

AKL-26 Special (AKL-26X) 1932 (ATC 2-404) = 65hp Velie M-5. POP: 1 [X15640] c/n 2-64.

AKL-27 1930 = Same as AKL-26B with 110hp LeBlond 7DF. [NR387N, 863W].
AKL-60 1930 = From AKL-26. POP: 3 [NC120H, NC122H/123H].
AKL-70 aka Model 70 Trainer 1929 = 2pOlwM; 70hp LeBlond 5E; span: 40'2" length: 23'4" load: 565# v: 93/80/38 range: 480. $3,550; $2,500 in 1931.