HELTON 95 LARK

The Helton Lark is the result of several brief attempts to turn the World War II era Culver PQ-8 target drone into a civilian sport plane. Despite the aircraft's good speed and handling the low payload of less than 600 pounds resulted in a very limited interest in the aircraft. The Lark Aviation Company in Tracy, California was the first to attempt to manufacture the aircraft. Beginning in 1961, two years of redesign and testing resulted in a modernized and improved aircraft with plywood covered wings in place of fabric, a fiberglass cowling, sliding canopy, and aerodynamic improvements. Production began and ended in 1963. In 1965, the Helton Aircraft Corporation of Mesa, Arizona acquired the rights to the Lark 95 and began production late in 1966. Production continued into the first part of 1967 when the last attempt at producing the Lark ended.