Winfield Bertrum Kinner
| Winfield Bertrum Kinner | |
|---|---|
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| Born |
Winfield Bertrum Kinner December 16, 1882 Iowa, United States |
| Died | July 4, 1957 (aged 74) Long Beach, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Bert Kinner |
| Occupation | Aircraft and aircraft engine designer, constructor |
| Spouse(s) | Cora Kinner |
Winfield Bertrum "Bert" Kinner (December 16, 1882 – July 4, 1957) was an American aircraft engine designer and constructor. Kinner founded Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation in Glendale, California which produced radial engines and aircraft.
Bert Kinner was born on December 16, 1882 in Iowa. His father was from New York. His mother was born in England and her maiden name was Lee. Kinner married Cora M. (1887–1982) and they had two children named Winfield Bertrum Kinner II (1911–1993) and Donald W. Kinner (1914–?). His wife Cora, and both of his children, were born in Minnesota.
On May 25, 1915, pioneer pilot and aviation designer, Otto Timm crashed in a field in Magnolia, Minnesota owned by Kinner. His aircraft engine was repaired by Kinner, who was fascinated by the aircraft.
In 1920, Kinner was working as an aircraft engineer in Los Angeles, but had an aspiration to design and build aircraft. He was the manager of Kinner Field, the first municipally owned airport in Los Angeles, located on the west side of Long Beach Boulevard and Tweedy Road, in what is now South Gate, California. His airfield included a small hangar, 1,200 ft (366 m), roughed out runway and one employee, Anita "Neta" Snook, who had recently arrived from Iowa after a season of barnstorming with her Curtiss JN-4 Canuck in tow.
"Snooky" turned out to be a good hire as she not only chatted up customers, and ran the air operation, but also served as a mechanic. Kinner hired Snook to test fly his aircraft and to provide flight instruction for a prospective training school. 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.
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