Long before the jet age, a California aircraft builder named Reuben H. Fleet transformed a small company into a giant of American aviation. From pioneering seaplanes in the 1920s to building bombers that helped win World War II, Consolidated Aircraft left an indelible mark on both military and civil flight.
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Consolidated
The company that helped define early U.S. airpower
United States
The number of Consolidated aircraft listed on aerocorner.com for each category.
AeroCorner features profiles for 5 Consolidated aircraft. This includes 5 Military Propellor Planes. Each profile includes performance data, photo galleries, dimensions, and operational history.
Consolidated Superlatives- Largest (wingspan): Consolidated B-32 Dominator
- Heaviest (MTOW): Consolidated B-32 Dominator
- Fastest: Consolidated B-32 Dominator
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Aircraft by Consolidated
Consolidated Aircraft Corporation was founded in 1923 by Reuben Hollis Fleet in Buffalo, New York. Fleet, a visionary pilot and entrepreneur, sought to design aircraft that were durable, practical, and easy to produce — an ambition that began with the company’s early success in building U.S. Army PT-series trainers and flying boats such as the PBY Catalina, one of the most famous seaplanes ever built.
In the 1930s, Consolidated relocated to San Diego, California, where the company established one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturing facilities on the edge of Lindbergh Field. It was there that engineers developed the Model 17, which evolved into the B-24 Liberator — a long-range heavy bomber that became one of the most-produced aircraft in history, with over 18,400 built during World War II.
The B-24’s speed, range, and payload revolutionized Allied strategic bombing, carrying crews across Europe and the Pacific. Alongside it, Consolidated produced the C-87 transport variant, the PB4Y-2 Privateer, and continued refining its renowned flying boats. The company’s manufacturing innovations, including modular construction and large-scale subcontracting, helped meet the enormous wartime demand for aircraft.
In 1943, Consolidated merged with Vultee Aircraft, forming Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation (Convair) — a name that would later define jet-age legends like the B-36 Peacemaker, F-102 Delta Dagger, and Convair 880 jetliner.
From humble beginnings in Buffalo to a San Diego powerhouse, Consolidated Aircraft exemplified the ingenuity, scale, and determination that powered American aviation into the modern era.