Origins of the Columbia Aircraft Co.
In the mid-1930s, Willis C. Brown and Richard Young established the Columbia Aircraft Co. in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This venture’s sole project was the development of a light, multi-purpose aircraft, which became known as the Brown-Young BY-1. It was also referred to as the Columbia BY-1 or Columbia Model 2.
Design and Specifications
The BY-1 was designed as a four-seat, strut-braced sesquiplane featuring an all-metal fuselage. Powering this aircraft was a robust seven-cylinder Jacobs L-4 radial engine, capable of producing 225 hp (168 kW), coupled with a two-bladed propeller.
Brief Operational History
Only a single example of the aircraft, bearing the registration NX13987, was ever built in 1936. Its operational life was brief; by the early stages of World War II, the BY-1 was disassembled for parts at White Rock Airport in Dallas, Texas, marking an early end to its short history.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | BY-1 |
| Engine type | 1 Piston engine Jacobs L-4 |
| Power, hp | 1 x 225 |
| Crew, crew members | 1 |
| Payload | 3 passengers |
Image and diagram gallery of the Brown-Young BY-1
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