Beechcraft Aircraft Born out of the Great Depression, Walter Beech founded the Beech Aircraft Corporation in 1932 out of Wichita, Kansas. With the demand for aircraft during World War II, Beech Aircraft boomed into one of the top three general aviation manufacturers. This continued until Walter Beech’s untimely death in 1950.  His late wife, Olive Ann Beech, was instrumental in the company’s development on the financial and operational side. She assumed leadership as President and Chairman of the [...]

Piper Aircraft Before it became Piper Aircraft, Taylor Brothers Aircraft Manufacturing Company was founded in 1927. Following the passing of one of the Taylor brothers, operations transitioned under the guidance of engineer William T. Piper in 1937. Piper Aircraft earned the title of the "Henry Ford of Aviation" during the Great Depression, thanks to Piper’s vision of an affordable, user-friendly private aircraft. The company introduced its first twin-engine model in 1954. It then established its headquarters in Vero [...]

Artificial intelligence (AI) in aviation is projected to reach a value of $90.38 billion globally by 2031 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46.2%. The aviation industry is on the brink of advancements to enhance operational efficiency, boost safety, and elevate the overall passenger experience. And AI is simply a catalyst for the innovation we’ll see in the upcoming years.  Airlines and manufacturers are ramping up investments in AI-driven technologies, particularly in predictive maintenance as it [...]

Piper Aircraft In the early 1960s, Cessna Aircraft Company began refining its utility aircraft designs. Their versatile flying freighter line, exemplified by models like the Super Skywagon, gained popularity for its adaptability to various missions. After witnessing the success of these aircraft in cargo operations, many sought to capitalize on the growing market for rapid transportation services. Cessna's engineering team, led by experienced designers, worked to create aircraft that could serve multiple roles. During the development of the [...]

Cessna By Textron Aviation Clyde Cessna, who later founded Cessna Aviation, first became fascinated with aircraft at an aviation show in 1911. Leveraging his experience in mechanics and automobile sales, he built his own plane from a kit and eventually became an accomplished pilot. In 1916, Cessna was offered space in J.J. Jones Car Co.'s warehouse to construct aircraft under one rule – the first plane's wings display the name "Jones-Six". Despite challenges during World War I, he [...]

20 Questions To Ask When Buying A Pre-Owned Aircraft Using Information Online Where do I start researching aircraft information online…? You can start by joining VREF Online – a database of thousands of aircraft with historical information, aircraft specifications, and more. You can also: Look up the exact aircraft serial number Watch YouTube videos Listen to popular aviation podcasts Research aircraft manufacturers for valuable resources As you dive deeper into your research, you may want to jot down [...]

Comparing two of Piper’s most popular aircraft ever is hard to do without going into its lengthy history spanning nearly a century. Despite the early death of Gordon Taylor in 1928 and several bankruptcies, Piper still managed to be a top producer of American planes during World War II with the Piper Cub.  The Cub aside, many still enjoy discussing the differences between Piper’s Cherokee and Warrior models, tracing both model developments from the early 1960s to today. [...]

Did you know…? The Department of Defense did not allow women to fly in combat until 1993. United States Navy Lt. Kimberly Dyson became the first American woman to fly a combat mission for the U.S. a year later in 1994. Women in aviation and their contributions to the industry were heavily ignored for many years. However, many of those contributions are being acknowledged today for the impact they had on the aviation industry. Contact us today for [...]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere. You use AI in your car, home, and every “smart” device you own. In fact, 77% of today’s devices use some form of AI. But what you may not know is that AI in aviation has been changing the industry’s landscape From safety advancements to managing air traffic more accurately and in real-time, AI is a potent tool with seemingly limitless potential. This is exactly why individuals and organizations can’t wait to get [...]

 Piper Aircraft In the early 1920s, Piper Aircraft began refining a more aerodynamic aircraft design. Their initial low-drag monoplane, made famous by the Spirit of St. Louis, accomplished its first successful non-stop transatlantic flight in 1927. After witnessing its ability to fly from New York to Paris across the Atlantic, many sought to replicate its design and emulate its success. Gordon and C. Gilbert Taylor teamed up to create their own version under the Taylor Brothers Aircraft Company. [...]