Lost Wings is FLYING’s ongoing look back at aircraft that once captured pilots’ imaginations but faded quietly from the flightline. These machines—some bold experiments, others everyday workhorses—represent the restless innovation and craftsmanship that shaped general aviation’s past. Each installment revisits a design that aimed high, flew well, and, for one reason or another, slipped into history.
In the competitive post-World War II aviation market, Aeronca Manufacturing Corp. took a chance on a new four-seat aircraft designed for families.
Aeronca began assembly line production for its first and only four-seater in 1948. The resulting Aeronca 15AC Sedan, while a rugged and capable machine, would ultimately become the final civilian airplane built by the Middletown, Ohio-based manufacturer.
Building the 15AC
Designs for the Sedan began in 1947, with engineers focusing on efficiently utilizing existing material inventory and minimizing production time and cost.
“The construction was to be conventional tube and fabric, and the powerplant, a Continental C-125,” wrote Gene Chase, editor of Vintage Airplane magazine, in the publication’s October 1980 edition featuring the aircraft. “Every effort was made to plan and design the Model 15AC (15th type, 1st model, powered by Continental) around existing material inventory and in the least amount of time.”
The Sedan’s C-125 engine was later upgraded to a 145 hp Continental C-145 to avoid underpowering its 2,050-pound gross weight airframe.
Its engine layout and cowling were adapted from the successful two-seat Model 7AC Champion, and the Champ’s cabin door was used on the aircraft’s right side. The 15AC’s modern, all-metal, single-strut wing was also configured to potentially accommodate folding provisions on future models.
First Flights
The first Aeronca 15AC Sedan prototype flew in January 1948, and the aircraft was greenlit for sale in September that year. Its cruise speed of 105 mph, 430 nm range, and service ceiling of 12,400 feet was marketed for practical performance. More on the specs can be found here.
What distinguished the Sedan from competitors like the Piper Pacer and Cessna 170 was its immense utility. It boasted a huge internal volume of 100 cubic feet with only the pilot aboard.
Its large wing also produced enormous lift, qualifying it as a short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft long before the term became popular.
This combination of space and performance made it a favorite in the backcountry, where it was operated on wheels, skis, and floats across the U.S., Canada, and Alaska. The float-equipped variant was known as the S15AC.
Exiting the Aviation Market
From mid-1948 through March 1951, Aeronca produced 561 Sedans at its Middletown, Ohio plant before terminating light aircraft assembly. The last aircraft was completed seven months after the line shut down and was assembled from remaining spares.
While competitors like Cessna evolved its taildragger 170 into a successful line of tricycle-gear aircraft, Aeronca exited the civilian market to focus on the aerospace industry. The company is currently a subsidiary under Canadian manufacturer Magellan Aerospace.
The 15AC may not have been as fast or slick as its competitors at the time, but the Sedan was still capable, fun to fly, and relatively affordable, with an initial price of $4,795.
As of 2004, hundreds of Sedans were still actively flying. More recent reporting suggests that 260 remained as of 2019. Organizations like the National Aeronca Association support enthusiasts who value the aircraft’s reliability and enjoyable flight characteristics.
