Incorporated February 1931 by Russian-born Alexander
P. Seversky (or De Seversky), First World War military pilot
who became U.S. citizen 1927. A test pilot and consulting
engineer, he established the Seversky Aero Corporation
in 1922. Developed novel amphibious landing gear,
promoted by Seversky Aircraft Corporation for fast allmetal
fighter-type aircraft. Aircraft design owed much to
Alexander Kartveli, who developed landplane fighters with
retractable landing gear. In 1935 Seversky
P-35
established
new speed record for amphibious aircraft, and land-fighter
development culminated in order for 77 single-seaters for
USAAC, designated P-35. In 1939-1940, following orders
for amphibians from USSR and landplanes from Japan,
Sweden contracted for 120 export versions of P-35. Several
fighter, multipurpose and trainer variants developed,
and BT-8 (first purpose-built machine of its class) adopted
in U.S.A.. Seversky Executive (2 passengers in cabin behind
pilot) won 1937 Bendix Trophy race. In 1939 company
offered USAAC XP-41 single-seat fighter, but in October
1939 company was reorganized as Republic Aviation Corporation. Special supercharger evolution for late Seversky
fighters led to the famous Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
long-range escort fighter/bomber.
