Joseph L. Cato (1888-1965) of San Francisco, California developed his first Cato engine below in 1910, as well as a water-cooled inline four in 1912. He was an early pioneer in engine development, airframe development, and as a pilot. He worked for the early aircraft companies Sloane and L-W-F, which he left in 1918. His second and third HOAE were built during 1918-1919 by the Marlin-Rockwell Co. of New Haven, Connecticut, along with a prototype light airplane. He rejoined L-W-F in 1919 and participated in the development of their Butterfly lightplane with, apparently, his O-270 (Model C-2) engine. Harold E. Morehouse credits this O-270 engine as being the forerunner of the HOAE lightplane engines that were developed ten years and more later - a great compliment considering Morehouse's accomplishments and stature. Cato later worked for the US Army Power Plant Branch at McCook Field, G. Elias & Co., Emsco, and finally the USAAF and USAF at Castle Air Force Base (HEM; Ae39). More information about Cato, his engines (including photos), and his aircraft designs can be found on Dr. Ralph Cooper's Early Birds of Aviation Website entries about Cato and the L-W-F Butterfly.
O-125 - - {4.0 / 5.0 / 125.7} / {101.6 / 127.0 / 2059}
2cyl; Cato; 35hp@1500rpm; 1910; Wt = 146#; TC = none.
Single-ignition engine.
Ae39.
Applications: None found.
O-235 - - {5.0 / 6.0 / 235.6} / {127.0 / 152.4 / 3861}
Same stroke as O-270.
2cyl; Cato; 72hp@1825rpm; 1919; Wt = 134#; TC = none.
Dual-ignition engine.
aerofiles.com; Ae39.
Applications: (US) Marlin-Rockwell lightplane prototype (designed by Cato).
O-270 - - {5.375 / 6.0 / 272.3} / {136.5 / 152.4 / 4462}
Same stroke as O-235.
2cyl; Cato C-2; 70hp@1800rpm; 1919; Wt = 154#; TC = none.
Dual-ignition engine.
aerofiles.com (photo in Powerplants entry); Ae39; HEM.
Applications: (US) L-W-F Butterfly (designed by Cato).