The story
Kansas City's Porterfield Aircraft built the Collegiate from 1936 as a lightweight trainer, starting on 40 hp and growing to 50 and then 65 hp. Its fuselage is so narrow, especially behind the cabin, that it earned the nickname Skinny Bird. Many Collegiates trained pilots in the Civilian Pilot Training Program as war approached. The final straw for Porterfield came in 1942, when it failed to win a contract to build military liaison aircraft, and production stopped after about 475.
Aviation historian Joseph Juptner recorded that a Collegiate would recover hands-off from a six-turn spin in one turn or less.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Collegiate?
Count the wing struts. A Collegiate has two parallel struts on each side, where the Cub, Aeronca Champ, Interstate Cadet, Aeronca Chief, Taylorcraft BC-12D and Luscombe 8 all use V-shaped struts. The fuselage is unusually narrow, especially aft of the cabin, and the seats are in tandem. The wing is close to symmetrical, curved almost as much underneath as on top.
What does a Collegiate sound like?
A light 65 hp Continental flat-four hum.
How fast is the Collegiate?
Top speed is 94 kts (108 mph) (CP-65).
How many passengers does the Collegiate carry?
Up to 1. A typical layout is Two seats in tandem.
How far can the Collegiate fly?
Range is about 261 nmi (CP-65).
How big is the Collegiate?
It is 22 ft 8 in long and 34 ft 9 in across the wings.
When did the Collegiate first fly?
Its first flight was in 1936.
How many Collegiates have been built?
About 475 (all models) built.
How rare is a Collegiate in Bogey?
COMMON. Everyday traffic. You will catch plenty of these, and every first catch still counts. Your first Collegiate catch is worth 25 points.
