Now-famous New-York-to-Paris flight (Walter Beech turned himĭown). Specifications, and even Charles Lindbergh had wanted one for his His swift, heavy-hauling, 5-seat Travel Air Modelĥ000 became the first airliner built to an airline's The first plane he'dĮver seen aloft was Clyde's 1916 'Jones Six.')īeech and Stearman preferred to develop stout, open-cockpitīiplanes, Cessna preferred efficient, enclosed-cabin monoplanes. Student pilot - was from Harper, near Rago. In architectural engineering and as a Navy airplane-rigger and (Stearman - a young man recently schooled Profits to join former Swallow workers Walter Beech and Lloyd Stearman in starting TravelĪir Manufacturing Company - which would soon become the world's leading producer Returning to Wichita, in 1926, Clyde invested his He spent a chunk of his money buying a Swallow airplane fromĪmerica's first successful commercial airplane-manufacturingĬompany, the E. But aviation was still an itching passion for War I had excluded Clyde Cessna, so he'd returned to his Rago farm, andĭeveloped a profitable grain-threshing business, and was soon The government ignoredĬessna's offer to build trainers and train pilots for the war, soīarnstormer/Farmer becomes an Airplane Manufacturer The governmentĬanceled all flying exhibitions and races, and other civilianĪviation, to divert resources to war. Had begun selling lessons, and started trying to build planes to Riding the area's famed south wind), the Comet set the In 1917 - flying from Blackwell, Oklahoma to Wichita (perhaps Silverwings, it was distinguished by a fully-covered fuselage,Īnd a windshield-like fairing bowl over the front of the cockpit. (a name he would re-use on subsequent planes). It was here that Clyde crafted his speedy ' Comet.' 'Burton Car Works' - would later give birth toĪirplane manufacturers named Stearman, Culver (The old Jones Six factory -īetter known from railroading years by its original name, 'Air Capital City' the birthplace of more airplanes Would eventually come from Wichita, ultimately making this It was the first airplaneīuilt in Wichita - the first of over a quarter-million which Similar to today's popular Eipper Quicksilver ultralight) had theĬar-maker's name painted under its wings in giant letters, Wichita's 'Jones Six' auto factory (for publicity), and Year, he built an improved version of the previous year's plane.īy 1916, he was invited to build his personal show planes in Of dollars per flight in his 'Silverwings.' Nevertheless - in a day when mostįolks only earned about $600 a year - Clyde was making hundreds Heartland, Clyde was never able to make the thousand-dollarįlights of earlier pioneers. Though he toured county fairs and sportsĮvents, and even made special visits of his own throughout the Next spring with silver-painted wings, and greater capabilities To rebuild his tattered machine into a better bird. Kids in the hayloft, while Clyde worked through the winters' cold Along the way, though, he came nearīankruptcy - moving his family back to family farmland in Rago, Through crashes and injuries (including leaping fromĪn inverted plane before it crashed, and weeks in the hospital),ĭetermined Cessna mastered the beast, and began flyingĮxhibitions profitably. Handful of Bleriot 'knock-offs.' Clyde learned theĬraft of plane-building, and took home a fuselage, around which Short-lived Queen's Aeroplane Co, which built a Jumped a train to New York City, and worked for a month at the His mind to building a copy of the French Bleriot monoplane which had most fascinated him in the show. That, too, Cessna dove into a fascination with airplanes. Of dollars with brief aerial exhibitions. ButĪt an aerial exhibiton in Oklahoma City, he saw the primitive Had saved over $7,500 (over ten years' wages in 1911 money). Then as super-salesman in nearby Enid, Oklahoma. Successful early career with automobiles - first as mechanic, And it started with a farm boy.ġ880's, became a consummate handyman and mechanic, helping To warplanes, stuntplanes to bizjets, on every inhabitedĬontinent. Light aircraft than any other in the world - over 180,000 soįar, serving in almost every imaginable capacity, from workplanes Month, as Cessna Aircraft Company (one of the world's oldestĪirplane manufacturers) continues its 75th year in business, weĮxplore the growth and history of Cessna - maker of far more Cessna history, Aviation History & Industry, Aviation Answer-Man

Cessna 172 cockpit shell