In 1960, after years of tinkering with military and corporate aircraft, Bernard "Ben" Wiplinger had one goal -- "build the toughest float anybody ever stuck under an airplane."

A plane capable of landing and taking off on the water wasn't a new concept, but Wiplinger thought improvements could be made on the floats that kept the aircraft above the water.

So Wiplinger founded Wipline Inc. and started working out of a World War II barracks building on the boundaries of the South St. Paul airport.

Half a century later, Wiplinger's descendants are still working out of South St. Paul, designing floats along with providing a myriad of other services.

The family business, now called Wipaire, is spread out in several hangars scattered around South St. Paul Fleming Field Airport. There also is a production facility in Inver Grove Heights and a seaplane base just off of the Mississippi River.

Charles "Chuck" Wiplinger, Ben's grandson and the company's executive vice president, said that Wipaire has been a leader in the industry through the years.

"It was one of those unique stories when everyone makes fun of you at first, but then they copy you," Wiplinger said.

The company has sold around 1,750 Wipline floats and now employs about 180 people, he said.

The planes that Wipaire outfits are used to reach remote areas, whether it's for recreational purposes like fishing or more important missions like fighting forest fires, Wiplinger said.

He is just one of several Wiplinger family members at Wipaire. His sister, Nancy, and wife, Sara, also work for the company.

"I just grew up around it and never really thought of anything else," Wiplinger said.

His father, Bob, gave the same reason for how he ended up in Wipaire. "I grew up in it," he said.

He remembers when he was a young child and would accompany his father flying in and out of the airport.

In July, Bob and several Wipaire employees designed and built the aircraft and launching apparatus that set a world record at the Red Bull Flugtag event in St. Paul.

The B-25-inspired contraption stayed in the air for five seconds, flying 207 feet before it crashed inevitably into the waters of the Mississippi.

If only it had also been equipped with two Wipaire floats.

Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495