International Aircraft

Foundation in California

The Catron and Fisk Company was founded in California in 1909 by Edwin M. Fisk and J.W. Catron.^[8][9] In February 1927, the company was reorganized as the International Aircraft Corporation.^[10] However, the corporation was forced to move after its factory in Long Beach was unable to keep up with demand.^[11] At the time of its move, the company had 80 airplanes on order, but could only build six a week.^[12] The vacated factory building would later be leased by the Courier Aircraft Company.^[13]

Move to Ohio

In 1927, the company was purchased by a group of Cincinnatians, and moved to a former federal government nitrate plant near Newtown, Ohio.^[14][15][9] Production commenced even before the factory was formally dedicated on 12 May 1928, with the first airplane rolling out on April 7.^{[16][1][17][18][19]} Later in May, construction was started on a new steel hangar at the site.^[20] In August, the company delivered newly completed aircraft by train for the first time.^[21][22] The company entered two airplanes in the 1928 National Air Tour.^[23][24] By October, it had contracted with the newly created Dawson Aircraft Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the latter to act as a distributor.^[25] However, the company rejected a follow-up offer by the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce to move the factory there.^[26] By that point aircraft production had ended.^[27] A plan proposed in December called for the company to be reorganized as a Delaware corporation owned by a group of investors led by C. B. Morganthaler.^[28][29][30]

Move to Michigan

The company was purchased by interests in Jackson, Michigan in May 1929.^[31][32][33] Land was purchased at Reynolds Field and plans were announced for a new 22-passenger trimotor airliner in addition to the company's existing aircraft.^[34] However, operations in Cincinnati were resumed in June and planned to continue until the new plant in Michigan was completed.^[35]

Following the sale, president Clarence E. Ogden carried out a series of lawsuits concerning the naming of a company receiver and disposition of various company airplanes.^{[36][37][38][39]}

To promote their new company, a women's air endurance record attempt was suggested.^[40] To this end, participation from famous aviatrixes Louise Thaden and Blanche Noyes was solicited.^[41]