Formed at Columbus, Ohio, in 1939 by K. K. Culver. Took
over manufacturing and sales rights of Dart Model G two-seat
low-wing cabin monoplane from Dart Manufacturing
Corporation same year. First own product, the Cadet,
was a two-seat light cabin monoplane (Continental flatfour
engine). In 1940-1941 developed two-seat Models
LFA and LCA tourer, based on the Cadet, but with
retractable landing-gear. Production ceased when America
entered Second World War, company then doing subcontract
work for U.S. aircraft industry. Moved to Wichita,
Kansas, 1941, and concentrated entirely on producing
radio-controlled pilotless aircraft based on LFA (nearly
2,400 produced) for use as PQ-8/TDC and PQ-14/TD2C
gunnery target drones with USAAF and USN. When this
ended in 1946, Culver began developing the Model V civil
lightplane, first flown September 1945. Four built as drones
designated XPQ-15. Company went bankrupt in late 1946;
remaining assets acquired mid-1956 by Superior Aircraft
Company.
