Funk Aircraft Company B-85c

Single Piston

The Funk B-85C is a charming relic of American general aviation's formative years, designed by brothers Joe and Howard Funk in the late 1930s and produced through the 1940s in Coffeyville, Kansas. Built as an affordable two-seat side-by-side trainer and personal aircraft, the Funk featured fabric-covered steel tube construction and a distinctive high-wing configuration that made it popular with flight schools and private owners during and immediately after World War II. Powered by variants of the Continental or Lycoming flat-four engine producing 65 to 85 horsepower, the B-85C was known for its docile handling, rugged construction, and forgiving flight characteristics—qualities that endeared it to student pilots and weekend flyers alike. Though production ceased in the early 1950s and only a few hundred were built across all variants, the Funk remains a beloved type among vintage aircraft enthusiasts, with a small but dedicated community keeping survivors airworthy. Its gentle stall speed of 38 knots and never-exceed speed of 140 knots reflect the leisurely pace of pre-war light aviation, when cross-country flights were measured in hours rather than minutes and the journey mattered as much as the destination. SkyMeter has tracked 2 flights across 1 airframes and 1 operators, with HERITAGE FLYING CLUB LLC the largest observed operator.