In 1934 the Funk brothers, twins, designed and built their first airplane, a two-seat "tube and rag" utility airplane powered by a 45 hp Szekley radial engine. In 1936 they replaced the radial with a modified Ford Model B engine. In 1938 the brothers formed the Akron Aircraft Company of Akron, Ohio and began producing the Funk B, powered by a modified Ford Model B engine. In 1941, the company moved to Coffeyville, Kansas and was renamed the Funk Aircraft Company. After the move, the brothers switched to the Lycoming GO-145, a 75 hp geared engine. Funks with the Lycoming engine were dubbed the model B75L. After WW II, the brothers switched to the Continental C-85 engine. Funks with the Continental C-85 engine were dubbed the model B85C. When the post war general aviation boom went bust in 1948, so did the Funk Aircraft Company. The Funk brothers then started what would become a successful truck parts company, the Funk Manufacturing Company, which is now a subsidiary of John Deere & Company. In all, 439 Funks were built between 1938 and 1948. The flying characteristics of Funks are generally described as gentle and forgiving.