Cessna By Textron Aviation Clyde Cessna founded his aircraft company in 1916 after being inspired by an Oklahoma City airshow in 1911. As a mechanic and auto salesman, he built his first aircraft from a Queens Airplane Company kit – eventually becoming a pilot. He began manufacturing planes at the Jones Motor Car factory in Wichita, Kansas. Despite creating the Comet in 1917, World War I halted production when materials were diverted to war efforts. This turn of [...]

Beechcraft Aircraft Aviation pioneer Walter Beech founded Beech Aircraft Corporation in 1932 in Wichita, Kansas until his death in 1950. To continue the company, his wife, Olive Ann Beech, managed the growth and development as President and Chairman until 1982.  Known for producing iconic aircraft, Beechcraft first flew its Bonanza in 1945 – ultimately becoming its most popular model. In addition, the Bonanza also boasted aviation’s longest production run with its three major variants – the Model 35 [...]

Cessna by Textron Aviation The Cessna legacy first started in June 1911 when Founder Clyde Cessna built and flew a powered aircraft. At the time, his only background was in farm machinery and developing new farming methods. So how did he get into aviation? He was inspired after viewing a 1910 aerial exhibition, leading him to experiment with his own aircraft designs in Enid, Oklahoma. Financial difficulties sent him home to Wichita, Kansas where he co-founded Travel Air [...]

Cessna by Textron Aviation In June 1911, Clyde Cessna built and flew his first powered aircraft – a significant milestone in aviation history. With no formal aviation training, his background was in farm machinery and agricultural innovation. After attending an aerial exhibition in 1910, he became interested in aviation and began testing his own aircraft designs in Enid, Oklahoma. Financial difficulties eventually led him back to Wichita, Kansas, where he co-founded Travel Air Manufacturing Co. in 1924. In [...]

Photo : Matthieu Sontag, Licence CC-BY-SA. Bombardier Canadair developed the Challenger business jet series after a Bill Lear concept, making its first voyage in 1980. But it wasn’t commercially produced until 1986 when Bombardier acquired Canadair to avoid bankruptcy. This acquisition was instrumental in Bombardier’s entry into the aerospace industry – especially in corporate aviation.  By the 1980s, Bombardier established itself as a major player in aviation with the development of the CRJ regional jets and the C Series, launched in [...]

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 [...]