Winfield Bertrum Kinner

Winfield Bertrum "Bert" Kinner (December 16, 1882 – July 4, 1957) was an American aircraft engine designer and designer of the first folding wing aircraft. Kinner founded Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation in Glendale, California, which produced radial engines and aircraft.

Aviation career On May 25, 1915, pioneer pilot and aviation designer, Otto Timm crashed in a field in Magnolia, Minnesota, owned by Kinner. His aircraft's Anzani engine was repaired by Kinner, who was fascinated by the aircraft.

Later that year, he and his family went to California, where Kinner opened a business as an automobile coachbuilder.

In 1920, Kinner was working as an aircraft engineer in Los Angeles, but had an aspiration to design and build aircraft. At Long Beach Boulevard and Tweedy Boulevard, on a 230-acre property, Kinner opened an airport and a company to manufacture airplanes.

Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation At the Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation, he began to design his first small, light aircraft called the Kinner Airster. The tiny biplane was powered by a three-cylinder Lawrence L2 engine that put out 60 hp.

Glendale In 1923, Kinner moved his airplane and engine manufacturing firm to Glendale.

Kinner continued to design and build a limited series of light aircraft; the Kinner series of engines powered aircraft from the late 1920s to the early 1930s. The earliest Kinner engines had three cylinders, and were modeled after the French Anzani 3-cylinder fan engines. Later Kinner developed a range of five cylinder engines. The airplane business ended in the mid-1930s, but the engines were produced through World War II. Kinner became the West Coast's largest producer of aircraft engines in 1941. The last series of Kinner engines powered PT-22 trainers.

Later years In the 1930s, Kinner, formed Security National Aircraft Corporation and built planes at Long Beach, California, that later became Downey Studios, in Downey, California,

Personal life Kinner married Cora M. Brusse (1887-1982), the sister of his test pilot, Lee V. Brusse. In Minnesota, they had two children, Winfield Bertrum Kinner II (1911–1993), and Donald W. Kinner (1914–?). In California, they had two children, Donna M Kinner (14 August 1922—?), and Robert H Kinner (21 October 1924—?).

Lee V. Brusse became Kinner's chief pilot and test pilot. Cora sewed fabric for airframes.

Kinner was a Quiet Birdmen. turning to aircraft inspection, due to ill health. in Long Beach, California. Los Angeles Times'''' reported, "Winfield Bertrum Kinner, 74, pioneer aircraft manufacturer and designer, died late Thursday in a Long Beach hospital". He was buried in the Portal of Folded Wings Shrine to Aviation with other aviation pioneers in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.

Amelia Earhart In December 1920, Kinner Field's most famous student, Amelia Earhart, arrived. After taking her first flying lesson with Neta Snook, Earhart bought the prototype Kinner Airster for $2,000 to continue her training. The bright yellow biplane, that she immediately christened "The Canary", was underpowered but provided Earhart with valuable flight time. When she wasn't able to raise more than the deposit, Kinner made a deal with her so that the Airster could be on hand as a demonstration aircraft in exchange for upkeep and hangar fees.

Earhart soloed in the Airster, and after Neta left Kinner field to get married, Earhart stayed on, and continued flying. In October 1922, the Kinner Airster was used to set a world high altitude record of for women pilots, the first of the many records set by Earhart.

Due to a change in the family fortunes, Earhart was forced to sell "The Canary", but later put together enough money to purchase a second Airster.