Cessna by Textron Aviation In June 1911, Clyde Cessna first built and flew a powered aircraft. For aviation, this was monumental as his only relevant aviation experience was improving farm machinery and developing new farming methods.  After attending an aerial exhibition in 1910, Clyde became enamored with aviation, testing his own aircraft designs in Enid, Oklahoma. However, he encountered financial difficulties – leading him back to his home in Wichita, Kansas. At first, he co-founded Travel Air Manufacturing [...]

Beechcraft Aircraft Founded in 1932 in Wichita, Kansas, Beech Aircraft Corporation was initially led by aviation pioneer Walter Beech until his death in 1950. His wife, Olive Ann Beech, then took the helm as President and Chairman, steering the company until 1982. Beechcraft is renowned for producing iconic aircraft, including the Model 17 Staggerwing and the Bonanza. First flown in 1945, the Bonanza became Beechcraft's most popular model, boasting the longest production run in aviation history, with three [...]

Diamond Aircraft Industries Founded in 1981 by Austrian designer Wolf Hoffmann, Diamond Aircraft Industries started as Hoffmann Flugzeugbau, gaining recognition with the HK36 Dimona motor glider – a leading model in its class in Europe. The company underwent several changes, including a name change to Hoffman Aircraft Limited in 1985 and the certification of the DV20 Katana in North America in 1993. In the early 2000s, it introduced the DA42 Twin Star, a diesel-engine aircraft, and rebranded as [...]

Bombardier Aerospace Before the LearJet 60 took to the skies, its story began with Bill Lear's pioneering vision in business aviation. The original Learjet legacy started in the 1960s, revolutionizing private air travel with the first purpose-built business jet, the Learjet 23. By the late 1980s, Gates Learjet Corporation (which had acquired the company from Bill Lear) wanted to evolve its successful Learjet 55 series into something more powerful and efficient. In 1990, Gates Learjet was acquired by [...]

Piper Aircraft Founded in 1927 by Clarence and Gordon Taylor on the edge of the Great Depression, Piper started as the Taylor Aircraft Manufacturing Company. Their straightforward goal was to build reliable and innovative aircraft. However, just a year later, Gordon died in an aircraft accident. After this tragedy, businessman William Piper encouraged Clarence to keep the company going in Pennsylvania. The Taylor Brothers designed the Piper Cub, which was found to be successful early on. However, after [...]