Beechcraft Aircraft Founded in in Wichita, Kansas in 1932, the Beech Aircraft Corporation fired up during the Great Depression and right before World War II began. Founder and President, Walter Beech, led until he passed unexpectedly in 1950. It was then up to his wife Olive Ann Beech to transform from the company’s secretary and treasurer to President. Olive remained President of Beechcraft for 18 years, officially retiring in 1982. The Model 17 Staggerwing in its earlier years [...]

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 with less drag 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 its design and copy its success. Gordon and C. Gilbert Taylor teamed up to create their own version under Taylor Brothers Aircraft Company. However, [...]

Aviat Aircraft Reuel, Ivan, and Spencer Call began working in 1939 on an aircraft made for farmers, ranchers, and hunters to have easier access to the land around them. This aircraft was to be small and designed to maneuver the mostly flat but rugged Intermountain Rockies around them. However, because of essential war efforts taking place, the materials to bring their first aircraft to life proved to be challenging. After the war, the team produced a low-wing taildragger, [...]

Cessna By Textron Aviation Cessna’s founder Clyde V. Cessna became inspired to create aircraft while watching an airshow in 1911. With experience as a mechanic and auto salesman, Clyde built his first aircraft with a kit from Queens Airplane Company in the Bronx. Over time, Clyde became a fairly proficient pilot. In 1916, Clyde got the opportunity to use a space for his aircraft dreams rent-free with one condition – any new aircraft he made had to [...]

Beechcraft Aircraft Founded in Wichita, Kansas in 1932, the Beech Aircraft Corporation started up during the Great Depression and just before World War II began. Founder and President, Walter Beech, led Beechcraft until he died in 1950. Before Walter’s unexpected passing, his wife Olive Ann Beech worked with him as the company’s secretary and treasurer. Following his death, she became acting President, which was hard for many people to accept at the time. However, Olive held that [...]

Cessna By Textron Aviation Cessna’s founder Clyde V. Cessna became inspired to create aircraft while watching an airshow in 1911. With experience as a mechanic and auto salesman, Clyde built his first aircraft with a kit from Queens Airplane Company in the Bronx. Over time, Clyde became a fairly proficient pilot. In 1916, Clyde got the opportunity to use a space for his aircraft dreams rent-free with one condition – any new aircraft he made had to have [...]

Piper Aircraft Website Brothers Clarence and Gordon Taylor established Taylor Brothers Aircraft in 1927. After about a year, Gordon Taylor passed away, initializing a name change to Taylor Brothers Aircraft Corporation. The start of the Great Depression caused Taylor Brothers Aircraft Corporation to go out of business, causing Clarence to pull away from his aviation career. After its closure, investor William Piper purchased company assets for $761 in 1930 – equivalent to about $12,335 in the 21st century. [...]

Cessna By Textron Aviation Website Cessna’s founder Clyde V. Cessna first visited an airshow in 1911, sparking his interest in making aircraft. With experience as a mechanic and auto salesman, Clyde made an aircraft with a kit from Queens Airplane Company in the New York area. Using this aircraft, he practiced as a pilot and became quite good. In 1916, Clyde had a unique chance to manufacture aircraft rent-free on one condition – including “Jones-Six” painted underneath the [...]

Mooney Website Albert Mooney and his brother Arthur founded the Mooney International Corporation in 1929. Together, they established the company in Wichita, Kansas. However, they faced the perils of a crashing economy. When the Great Depression struck in 1930, Mooney went bankrupt. While the brothers worked other jobs, Albert fed into Mooney Aircraft Incorporated – eventually bringing in financial bankers Charles Yankey and W. L. McMahon. Mooney's first aircraft was the Mooney Mite M-18, a single-seater aircraft [...]

Cessna By Textron Aviation Cessna’s founder Clyde V. Cessna first visited an airshow in 1911, which sparked his interest in designing and producing aircraft. With experience as a mechanic and auto salesman, Clyde made an aircraft with a kit from Queens Airplane Company in the New York area. Clyde practiced flying and, over time, became a fairly good pilot. 1916 presented Clyde with the chance to manufacture aircraft rent-free on one condition. That condition included painting “Jones-Six” underneath [...]