Bombardier Aviation In 1937, a young mechanic from Quebec invented a “snow vehicle", a 7-passenger B7 snowmobile that kicked off Bombardier’s success. Over time, Bombardier expanded into different types of snow vehicles. This ultimately created the iconic Ski-Doo personal snowmobile in 1959, which launched an entirely new industry. Under the leadership of Laurent Beaudoin from 1966 on, Bombardier went public. A major turning point came in the 1970s after the oil crisis forced cuts in snowmobile production. The [...]

Beechcraft By Textron Aviation Beechcraft has a history dating back to 1932. Founded in Wichita, Kansas by Walter and Olive Beech with engineer Ted Wells, the company quickly made its mark on the aviation industry. The Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing took to the skies that same year. Because of the Staggerwing's success, the distinctive staggered wing aircraft became a symbol of Beechcraft. This resulted in them producing over 750 Staggerwings. Following the success of the Staggerwing, Beechcraft introduced [...]

Ever wish there was a database with everything you could want as a buyer or seller of aircraft? Gathering reliable information about aircraft appraisal services can easily become overwhelming. This is why VREF Online is an ideal aircraft data assistant for individual owners and organizations. Because buying or selling an aircraft looks different for different people, our database can also help answer some questions like… What features do I want most from an aircraft? Is business jet A [...]

Envision living life like The Jetsons? When the popular 60s sitcom appeared on television, their tech inspired us all to think about the future of urban air mobility (UAM). More than 60 years after The Jetsons pilot episode premiere, we still don’t operate zippy space cars with a Rosey the Robot at our side. But aviation industry professionals know that we have witnessed seriously significant UAM developments – some of which can be life-saving. Ever been in an [...]

Cessna Aircraft By Textron Aviation Clyde Cessna, the founder of Cessna Aviation, discovered his passion for aircraft at an aviation exhibition in 1911. With a background in mechanics and car sales, he assembled his own airplane using a kit. He eventually became a skilled pilot. In 1916, J.J. Jones gave Cessna the chance to work in part of the J.J. Jones Car Co. warehouse to build aircraft. Jones had just one condition – that the wings of his [...]

Robinson Helicopter Company Founded in 1973 by Frank Robinson, the Robinson Helicopter Company produced top-quality, affordable, reliable helicopters. Its first model, the R22, was introduced in 1979. It gained popularity for its simplicity, affordability, and ease of maintenance. Catering to private owners and flight schools, the R22 continued to rise in popularity. Because of this, the 4-seat R44 Raven I launched in 1992 and evolved into the enhanced R44 Raven II with improved performance capabilities. In 2010, the [...]

Only about 44% of students succeed in earning their student pilot certificates. But why? In addition to lifestyle challenges, becoming a private pilot is a journey that not all students are prepared to take. On one hand, it’s exciting to pass on the love for aviation to younger generations. The knowledge, skills, and experiences of respected pilots are unmatched – even in a world seemingly obsessed with AI. To clarify, a student pilot certificate only allows you to [...]

What happens to your aircraft in a divorce? Pilots and aircraft owners may think more often about preparing their aircraft in the event of an emergency or an untimely death. However, many aircraft owners consistently do not cover all their bases when it comes to a certain life event. Including your aircraft in your will or estate plan should take into account every possible thing like a potential divorce. You follow other procedures and checks while maintaining records [...]

Most people don’t immediately associate estate planning with aircraft ownership. But there are a few reasons to include your aircraft in your estate plans – especially if you also own a business. Have you asked yourself questions like… Is anyone in my family interested in aviation? Do I want to prevent my aircraft from rotting in an unattended airfield? Is my aircraft capable of having another life after me? What are the options for my plane if something [...]

Piper Aircraft Piper Aircraft began fine-tuning a more aerodynamic aircraft design in the early 1920s. Made popular by the Spirit of St. Louis, their initial monoplane made the first successful non-stop transatlantic flight. After seeing it capable of flying from New York to Paris across the Atlantic, everyone wanted to try and copy its design to garner the same success. Gordon and C. Gilbert Taylor teamed up to create their own version under Taylor Brothers Aircraft Company. However, [...]