Born in Knapps Creek, New York, on 8 January 1881, he was
graduated from Harvard University in 1903 as a mechanical
engineer. His career in aviation began in 1929 with Taylor
Brothers Aircraft Company. With Piper as General Manager,
the company produced the affordable and reliable Taylor Cub
light plane. The Cub's popularity grew due to Piper's
insistence on low price, simplicity, and reliability. Piper
bought out the Taylor Brothers and in 1937 moved the company
to Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, forming the Piper Aircraft
Corporation. Known now as the Piper Cub, the small light
plane grew to dominate the civil light aircraft field and
was used extensively during World War II as the Piper L-4.
Piper's enthusiasm for private flying and the thousands of
light planes produced by his company made an exceptional
contribution to general aviation throughout the world.
Died Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, 15 January 1970.
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