Aviat Aircraft—Inheriting a Heritage
Afton is a small town in Wyoming, USA, with an aviation history that stretches back to 1939. Since its founding in 1991, Aviat Aircraft has kept Afton in the aircraft-building business.
In 1939, the Call Aircraft Company (CallAir) was established in Afton with the goal of designing and building touring aircraft. The company’s aircraft-building activities were delayed by the Second World War, and it operated as an aircraft repair facility for the duration of the conflict. CallAir designed and produced a small number of utility and agricultural aircraft from the late 1940s to its dissolution in 1962.
The Intermountain Manufacturing Company (IMCO) was formed in 1962 to purchase the CallAir assets and continue production of the CallAir A-9 agricultural aircraft. In 1966, IMCO was purchased by Rockwell-Standard, and production of the A-9 was moved in 1967 from Wyoming to Georgia, where it was continued by Aero Commander, a subsidiary of Rockwell-Standard.
By the early 1970s, the former CallAir and IMCO facilities were occupied by Aerotek, a partnership of Herb Anderson (former designer and engineer at CallAir), Doyle Child, and legendary aerobatics pilot Curtis Pitts. Pitts had received FAA certification for serial production of his very popular Pitts Special aerobatic biplane in 1971 and granted Aerotek a licence to produce it. Pitts and Child purchased Anderson’s shares in the company shortly thereafter. In 1977, Pitts sold his remaining interest in the company to Child and retired.
In 1983, Doyle Child sold the Pitts Special to Frank Christensen. Christensen had previously attempted to purchase the aircraft rights to the Pitts Special but was unable to reach an agreement with Curtis Pitts. In response, Christensen designed his own aerobatic biplane and, in 1972, founded Christen Industries to produce it in kit form as a homebuilt aircraft. Known as the Christen Eagle, the aircraft enjoyed great popularity.
With the purchase of the Pitts Special and other Aerotek assets, Christensen moved his aircraft-building operation from Hollister, California, to Afton in 1984 to take advantage of the larger facilities, skilled workforce, and lower operating costs available there. This move proved timely, as FAA certification for series production of the Christen Eagle had already been granted.
The early 1980s saw demand for aircraft such as the Pitts Special and Christen Eagle decline as monoplane aerobatic aircraft made of modern materials gained popularity. In response, Christensen looked for another aircraft to produce to offset the shortfall. Initially, he attempted to purchase the production rights to older, discontinued aircraft—such as the venerable Piper PA-18 Super Cub—but was unable to reach an agreement on price.
Unable to acquire the rights to an existing design, Christensen undertook the design of a completely new aircraft, which became known as the A-1 Husky.
The Christen A-1 Husky first flew in 1986 and has the distinction of being one of the few fully new light aircraft designs to be put into series production in the USA during the latter half of the 1980s. Designed as a short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft, it was ideally suited to bush flying and difficult-to-access backcountry areas. The aircraft was a success from the outset and remains popular to the present day.
Aviat Aircraft purchased Christen Industries in 1991 and has continued to develop the Husky, ensuring that the aircraft remains viable and popular while keeping Afton’s aviation heritage alive.
Let’s spend some time with the Husky:
The Super Cub Meets the Computer
Design work on the Husky began in 1985. Frank Christensen brought Herb Anderson onboard to assist in the design process.
The impetus for the Husky was to give Christen Industries an aircraft that could keep the company in business—it was about survival rather than risk-taking. Part of mitigating that risk was turning to established designs, such as the Piper Super Cub, rather than pursuing a clean-sheet approach.
Another aspect of Christensen’s risk mitigation was identifying a niche in the light utility aircraft market. Located in a geographic region known for wide-open spaces and spectacular, but difficult-to-access, locales, Afton provided Christensen with direct exposure to the needs of pilots who regularly flew in the backcountry of Wyoming and its bordering states. At the time, most aircraft used in backcountry flying were older designs that were showing their age and in need of replacement.
The combination of seeing a clear niche to be filled, but being unable to secure the licence to produce a proven design, led Christensen to follow the Super Cub closely when designing the Husky. The Super Cub dated to the late 1940s, but it was a formula that worked.
An additional area of risk reduction—as well as cost-cutting and time-saving—was the use of computer-aided design (CAD) technology. While CAD was not new to aviation, the Husky was one of the first aircraft of its class to be designed using a computer.
The measures Christensen took to minimize risk and save costs resulted in the Husky having a remarkably short development time between the start of design in 1985 and its first flight in 1986. FAA certification was granted in 1987.
The end result was an aircraft that echoed the trusted looks of the Super Cub but was a very different—and completely modern—beast under the skin.
Ascent from the Doldrums
The 1980s and early 1990s were a difficult time for aviation in the USA. General aviation was particularly hard hit, with the sector’s fortunes taking a sharp downturn from the lofty market peak reached in the late 1970s.
A number of factors combined to create this downturn and keep it in place for more than a decade. Key factors included:
Early 1980s recession — The early 1980s were marked by a severe economic recession in many parts of the world. Inflation rates reached double digits in many countries, unemployment was high, and people’s spending power was low.
Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988) — This conflict erupted shortly after the Islamic Revolution in Iran from 1978 to 1979. Together, these events contributed to greatly inflated fuel and oil prices in the USA and many other countries due to reduced oil production in both Iran and Iraq.
Product liability laws in the USA — Product liability conditions as they existed in the 1980s forced legendary manufacturers such as Beech, Cessna, and Piper to discontinue production of many of their single- and twin-engine piston aircraft for a number of years. Rising liability costs were driving aircraft prices out of the market.
Declining public interest — The economic realities of the 1980s forced many people out of general aviation in favour of more affordable pastimes. At the same time, urban sprawl brought airports and populated areas closer together, making aircraft a more pervasive presence. Many people grew tired of aircraft noise and wanted to see fewer of them.
Operational restrictions — In 1981, more than 11,000 striking air traffic controllers (ATCs) in the USA were fired by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for disobeying a back-to-work order. This created a critical shortage of ATCs nationwide, and aviation activities—particularly general aviation—were subject to restrictions to control the flow and volume of air traffic until sufficient new controllers could be hired and trained.
The recession had begun to ease by 1985, but manufacturers remained very cautious. Most new developments in general aviation during the decade focused on modernizing avionics and other internal systems. Where airframes were concerned, manufacturers largely concentrated on incremental improvements to existing models rather than designing new aircraft. Meaningful change did not occur until the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA) was signed into law in 1994. One of GARA’s most important effects was the introduction of more reasonable product liability conditions, allowing manufacturers to bring piston-driven aircraft prices back within reach.
With its certification attained in 1987, the Husky was perfectly positioned to take advantage of the easing recession and begin filling the niche it was made for—and then some. Backcountry pilots took to the Husky immediately. The classic and trusted shape of the Super Cub, combined with modern design and materials, was a difficult combination to resist.
Pilots found a reliable aircraft with excellent STOL and low-speed handling that could easily access remote areas. As expected of a bushplane, the Husky could be fitted with floats, skis, or large tundra tires in place of its standard landing gear.
The Husky was also well thought out in terms of accessibility. The engine cowls were designed to provide full access to the engine, and inspection panels were strategically placed to allow access to critical internal structures without undue dismantling of the aircraft.
Ergonomics was another area where the Husky stood out. While the cockpit layout followed the general arrangement of the Super Cub, it was significantly more comfortable and roomy. Considerable attention was paid to pilot and passenger comfort, especially for long-distance flying.
As the 1980s gave way to the 1990s and the GARA reforms were put into place, general aviation in the USA began to experience a renaissance. The Husky demonstrated its versatility during this period, performing well in roles beyond the bush-flying niche.
Between its introduction in 1987 and 2008, more than 650 examples of the Husky were sold, making it a bestseller in its class during that period.
The Husky at Work and Play
As a utility aircraft, many of the qualities that make the Husky a great bushplane also make it an excellent platform for other practical tasks.
The Husky has proven to be a very capable machine in areas such as wildlife management, pipeline inspection, border patrol, banner towing, aerial photography, forestry, and agriculture.
The Husky has a very good thrust-to-weight ratio, allowing it to carry a respectable amount of weight for its size. It is also a very fuel-efficient aircraft, with a range that makes it suitable for cross-country flying.
On the recreational side, the Husky makes an excellent sightseeing aircraft and has adapted well to glider towing.
By most accounts, the Husky is an enormously fun and rewarding aircraft to fly and is highly customizable through a wide range of options offered by Aviat.
A Look at the Husky Pack
As of early 2026, the Husky family contains six members. The main differences between variants are gross takeoff weight, engine options, and wing design.
Husky A-1
The A-1 is the original Husky as certified in 1987. It came equipped with a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine and had a gross takeoff weight of 816 kilograms (1,800 pounds).
Husky A-1A
Introduced in 1998, the Husky A-1A featured a different version of the 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine and an increase in gross takeoff weight to 857 kilograms (1,890 pounds). In addition to being able to carry a larger load than the A-1, the A-1A had a door added to the right side of the fuselage, providing improved access to the baggage area behind the rear seat.
Husky A-1B
The Husky A-1B was introduced alongside the A-1A in 1998. It was equipped with the same Lycoming O-360 engine as the A-1A but also offered the option of a fuel-injected, 200-horsepower Lycoming IO-360 engine, along with a wider selection of propeller options. The gross takeoff weight of the A-1B was 907 kilograms (2,000 pounds).
An important development came in early 2005 with the introduction of a new wing design. The new wing featured longer flaps and ailerons that were shorter and broader than those of the original design. The larger flaps further improved the aircraft’s already strong STOL performance, while the redesigned ailerons provided better roll control. All A-1B aircraft built from early 2005 onward, as well as the subsequent A-1C model, were fitted with this new wing.
Husky A-1B-160 Pup
This is a very rare member of the Husky family, with only 12 examples known to have been built. The initial version, introduced in 2003, did not feature flaps, while a flapped version was introduced in 2005. It was powered by a 160-horsepower Lycoming O-320 engine and had the same 907-kilogram (2,000-pound) gross takeoff weight as the standard A-1B.
Husky A-1C
The Husky A-1C was introduced in September 2007 and was made available in two standard versions:
- Husky A-1C-180 — Equipped with a 180-horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine and a gross takeoff weight of 998 kilograms (2,200 pounds).
- Husky A-1C-200 — Equipped with a fuel-injected, 200-horsepower Lycoming IO-360 engine and a gross takeoff weight of 1,021 kilograms (2,250 pounds).
The A-1C is often referred to as the “modern” Husky, as Aviat made numerous changes—particularly in the cockpit—when it was introduced. The aircraft features modern digital avionics, resulting in an instrument panel dominated by multifunction displays rather than analogue gauges. The already good ergonomics were further improved with more comfortable seats offering a greater range of adjustment.
The A-1C also introduced a quickly removable rear seat and control stick, freeing that space for additional cargo.
The Husky Today and Learning More
As of early 2026, the Husky remains very much in production and fully supported by Aviat. It is the company’s flagship product.
Over the years, the Husky has built a reputation as a rugged and trouble-free aircraft that retains its value well and remains popular on both the new and second-hand aircraft markets.
A significant factor in the Husky’s strong resale value is the wide range of options and customizations offered by Aviat. Each aircraft can be equipped at the factory to suit an individual pilot’s needs and preferences. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this flexibility is a dividend of the decision to use CAD technology during the aircraft’s original design. CAD allows for a level of accuracy and consistency in both design and documentation that traditional methods could not achieve, making it cheaper, easier, and more efficient to update and modify the aircraft over time.
The Husky’s popularity should ensure it enjoys a practical lifespan comparable to that of the legendary Piper Super Cub on which it was based.
If you want to see a Husky in action, your best bet is to travel to the backcountry areas it was designed for. While the aircraft has been widely exported, regions such as Alaska and remote bush areas of Canada and the continental USA are where the Husky sees its greatest popularity.
To learn more about the Husky, a good first stop is the official Aviat Aircraft website, which provides extensive information not only about the Husky but also about the Pitts aerobatic biplanes that Aviat continues to produce and support.
A video walkaround and interview with a Husky pilot can be found on the Skywagon University YouTube channel. At roughly 20 minutes in length, it is quite informative.
A very detailed and informative write-up on the Husky and its development can be found on the High Sierra Pilots website.
The rugged and resilient nature of the Husky is also well illustrated by an aircraft that later joined the Red Bull fleet. Prior to Red Bull’s acquisition, the aircraft spent a decade operating in Fiji. The saltwater environment took a significant toll, and the aircraft required a full rebuild before it could be added to Red Bull’s flying collection.
Pickled Wings 