Editing Engineering and Research Corporation

{{Short description|American manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company 
|name = Engineering and Research Corporation
|logo = Engineering and Research Corporation Logo (1939).png
|type = 
|foundation = 1930
|location = [[Riverdale Park, Maryland|Riverdale, Maryland]]
|key_people = [[Henry Berliner]], [[Fred Weick]]
|industry = [[Aerospace]] and [[Arms industry|defense]]
|products = [[Erco Ercoupe]]
|revenue = 
|operating_income = 
|net_income = 
|num_employees = 
|parent = [[American Car and Foundry Company|ACF]]
|subsid = 
|homepage = 
|footnotes =
}}

'''Engineering and Research Corporation (ERCO)''' was started by [[Henry Berliner]] in 1930. Berliner was the son of [[Emile Berliner]], who had patented numerous inventions relating to [[sound]] and [[acoustics]], and pioneer of helicopter development with the experimental [[Berliner Helicopter]].

The younger Berliner founded ERCO to produce tools for the manufacture of metal aircraft and propellers.  He founded the company in a shed at 2014 5th Street NW Washington D.C. Berliner met [[Fred Weick]], an [[aeronautical engineer]], who worked with [[National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics]] in [[NACA cowling|cowling]]s and propellers on a 1926 while developing the propellers for the [[USS Akron (ZRS-4)|USS Akron]].<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Air & Space Magazine|title=Buy Your Plane at Penney's: For a few magical years, it looked like every family would own an airplane|first=Paul |last=Glenshaw|date=November 2013 |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/buy-your-plane-at-penneys-8036799/}}</ref> Weick also worked on an [[experimental aircraft]] that incorporated the up-to-date safety features.

In 1935, the company moved to 6100 Sligo Blvd.<ref name="WaPo_1956">{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Saving Pilots and Planes Is Erco's Main Business: ACF Division Has 75 Pct. of Output In Simulators|date=26 August 1956|first=S. Oliver |last=Goodwin}}</ref>

In 1936, Weick left NACA to work for ERCO on his "safety airplane". In 1937, Berliner purchased 50 [[acres]] of land in [[Riverdale Park, Maryland|Riverdale, Maryland]] near the [[College Park Airport]] and built the large ERCO factory and airstrip. One of ERCO's most significant achievements was the development of the [[ERCO Ercoupe|Ercoupe]] aircraft.

The first experimental model of the Ercoupe was test-flown at College Park airport in 1937. It had a single tail (unlike the eventual production Ercoupes, with their characteristic twin tails) and was known as the "Jeep". In late 1938, ERCO searched unsuccessfully for a suitable engine for its new airplane. ERCO hired [[Harold Morehouse]], former engineer in charge of small engine design at [[Continental Motors Company|Continental Motors]], to design a new engine. He came up with the inverted, in-line [[ERCO I-L 116|I-L 116]], which provided good pilot visibility and enhanced aircraft streamlining. ERCO installed the I-L 116 in the prototype Ercoupe Model 310 in 1939. The engine performed well, but ERCO discontinued it when Continental introduced the [[Continental A-65|A-65]] engine in 1940, which generated comparable horsepower at half the cost. Construction of the production prototype was completed in 1939, and certification by the CAA was completed in 1940. The first Ercoupe, serial No. 1, was owned by George Brinckerhoff, the operator of the College Park Airport, and flown there. It now is at the [[National Air and Space Museum]].

During World War II, the ERCO factory made several products under contract with the U.S. government, including [[gun turrets]]. ERCO earned an "E" award for excellence in meeting manufacturing goals in its war contracts.

In 1947, Berliner decided to leave the aviation industry and sold the drawings, tools, parts, materials and distribution rights for the Ercoupe to [[Sanders Aviation]], although the small aircraft market had fallen into decline.

In all, ERCO and Sanders Aviation sold just over 5,000 Ercoupes.

In 1948, ERCO started producing aircraft simulators, becoming its main line of business. In November 1954, ERCO became part of [[American Car and Foundry Company|ACF]].<ref name="WaPo_1956"/>

==References==
=== Notes ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin}}
* [https://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/MD/Airfields_MD_PG_C.htm#erco "Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Maryland: Central Prince George's County area"], by Paul Freeman, ''[[Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields]]'', retrieved January 12, 2006
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060131064855/http://www.pgparks.com/places/historic/cpam/3erco.html "College Park Aviation Museum: History: ERCO"], ''[[College Park Aviation Museum]]'', retrieved January 12, 2006
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051230193424/http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/GENERAL_AVIATION/ERCO/GA12.htm "ERCO Ercoupe"], by Roger Guillemette, ''US Centennial of Flight Commission'', retrieved January 12, 2006
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Engineering and Research Corporation}}
*{{HAER |survey=MD-164 |id=md1736 |title=ERCO Factory, 6501 Lafayette Avenue, Riverdale Park, Prince George's County, MD |photos=4 |cap=1}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Engineering And Research Corporation}}
[[Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Aviation in Maryland]]
[[Category:Companies based in Prince George's County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Maryland]]
[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Maryland]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in Maryland]]