Wipaire is a third-generation family-owned American aircraft manufacturing and repair company, best known for its aircraft floats.
The company was founded shortly after World War II by Ben Wiplinger, a veteran of the United States Army Air Forces. He returned to his native Minnesota and set up shop at South St. Paul Airport to convert surplus military aircraft (usually transport types; sometimes bombers) into civilian executive aircraft.
Wiplinger was an avid floatplane pilot, and he was familiar with the dominant line of light-aircraft floats of the era, EDO. He sought an EDO dealership, but was turned down. He formed Wipline, Inc. to fabricate his own line of aircraft floats.
The production of Wipline floats commened in 1960, though the first set wasn’t sold until 1962. By 2013 the company had delivered over 2000 sets of floats, ranging in capacity from Cubs to Twin Otters.
Bob Wiplinger, Ben’s son, established Wipaire, Inc. in 1974. Both companies (Wipaire, Inc. and Wipline, Inc.) were combined in 1979 when Bob purchased Wipline, Inc. from Ben. Today, the company president is Chuck Wiplinger, Bob’s son and Ben’s grandson, who took over the role in 2011.
Until 2013 the company was based entirely in Minnesota. In late January 2013, it opened a floatplane service and repair facility at Leesburg International Airport in Lake County, Florida.
