Ken Brock Manufacturing

{{Short description|American aircraft manufacturer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Use American English|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = Ken Brock Manufacturing, Inc. | logo = Ken Brock Manufacturing Logo 2005.jpg | logo_size = 250px | caption = | type = [[Privately held company]] | traded_as = | fate = Out of business | predecessor = | successor = | foundation = 1960s | founder = [[Ken Brock]] | defunct = late 2005 | hq_location = | hq_location_city = [[Stanton, California]] | hq_location_country = [[United States]] | area_served = | key_people = | industry = [[Aerospace]] | products = [[Kit aircraft]], [[autogyros]] | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = Santa Ana Metal Stamping | homepage = | footnotes = | intl = }} [[File:KenBrock.jpg|thumb|right|Ken Brock flying a [[Brock KB-2]] in August 2001]] [[File:N112SW Ken Brock KB-3 Gyrocopter (8877723726).jpg|thumb|right|[[Brock KB-3]]]] '''Ken Brock Manufacturing, Inc.''' was an American [[aircraft manufacturer]] founded by [[Ken Brock]] in the 1960s and based in [[Stanton, California]]. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of [[autogyro]]s in the form of kits for [[Homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]], including under the US [[FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles]] rules.<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, pages E-3 and F-3. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesFeb2005">Downey, Julia: ''2005 Trikes 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 22, Number 2, February 2005, page 57. Belvoir Publications. ISSN 0891-1851</ref><ref name="exp">{{cite web|url = http://exp-aircraft.com/aircraft/pagesAir/Ken-Brock-Vendor.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071022231521/http://exp-aircraft.com/aircraft/pagesAir/Ken-Brock-Vendor.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = October 22, 2007|title = Ken Brock Manufacturing, Inc.|access-date = 24 February 2015|last = exp-aircraft.com}}</ref>

Ken Brock Manufacturing produced a number of aircraft designs including the [[Brock KB-1]], [[Brock KB-2]] and [[Brock KB-3]] autogyros, plus the [[Ken Hovey]]-engineered [[Brock Avion]] [[ultralight aircraft]]. The company was also noted for the high-quality [[aircraft part]]s that it produced for other designer's aircraft, especially the [[Rutan Long-EZ]] and the [[Cozy Mark IV]].<ref name="Cliche"/><ref name="KitplanesFeb2005"/><ref name="exp"/><ref name="ANN">{{cite news|url = http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=fb122d37-cf0a-46f1-9f55-e1dfe567bf01|title = Ken Brock Manufacturing Closed |access-date = 24 February 2015|date = 31 January 2006| work = Aero News Network}}</ref>

The company occupied a {{convert|10000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} plant that included [[lathe]]s, [[milling machine]]s, [[drill press]]es, [[tap and die]] making, equipment for [[heat treating]] metal, [[plating]] and [[welding]].<ref name="Facilities">{{cite web|url = http://kenbrockmfg.com/mfgfac.htm|title = Manufacturing Facilities|access-date = 15 February 2015|last = Brock|first = Ken|url-status = usurped|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050204142655/http://kenbrockmfg.com/mfgfac.htm |archive-date = 4 February 2005}}</ref>

A subsidiary was Santa Ana Metal Stamping, which Brock set up to produce [[stamped metal]] parts using [[numerical control]] machinery.<ref name="SantaAna">{{cite web|url = http://kenbrockmfg.com/stamping.htm|title = Santa Ana Metal Stamping|access-date = 15 February 2015|last = Brock|first = Ken|url-status = usurped|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050204143500/http://kenbrockmfg.com/stamping.htm |archive-date = 4 February 2005}}</ref>

The company closed for business at the end of 2005 after Brock's death on 19 October 2001 while landing a [[Thorp T-18]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=NTSB Accident Number: LAX02FA008|url=https://www.accidents.app/summaries/accident/20011030X02171|access-date=2021-06-26|website=www.accidents.app}}</ref> After his death, Brock's widow, Marie Brock, who survived the 2001 accident, attempted to sell the business and parts on hand. [[Aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co]] purchased the Cozy Mark IV parts inventory, jigs, tooling and drawings.<ref name="ANN"/>

== Aircraft ==

{| class="wikitable" align=center style="font-size:90%;" |- |+ align=center style="background:#BFD7FF"| Summary of aircraft built by Ken Brock Manufacturing |- style="background:#efefef;" ! Model name ! First flight ! Number built ! Type

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Ken Brock aircraft}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.kenbrockmfg.com Company website archives] on [[Archive.org]] {{Ken Brock aircraft}}

[[Category:Defunct aircraft manufacturers of the United States]] [[Category:Ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Homebuilt aircraft]] [[Category:Autogyros]] [[Category:Stanton, California]] [[Category:Companies based in Orange County, California]]