The Great Lakes Aircraft Corporation was located at 16800 St. Clair Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, in the former Glenn L. Martin factory. Operating between 1929 and 1935, Great Lakes was primarily a manufacturer of military aircraft, including Navy torpedo planes.  However, from 1929 to 1933 the firm designed and produced a biplane for civilian use.  These 2T-1A Sport Trainers became popular because they were easy to maneuver and fun to fly.  Great Lakes ads claimed the plane could take off in 50 yards and land in just 100.  Pilots liked them so well that the Sport Trainer was revived in the 1970s, when a different manufacturer acquired the rights and produced a second generation of the airplane, the 2T- 1A-2.  The Crawford Museum's Great Lakes Trainer was the 8th one built by the original company.

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