

Textron Aviation, the current owner of Cessna, notes that Cessna’s cantilever design became and remains the industry standard. That year, Cessna developed his characteristic cantilever wing design. Roos to create the Cessna-Roos Aircraft Company. Cessna would leave Travel Air in 1927, teaming up with Victor H. Two aircraft, the “City of Oakland” and the “WOOLAROC,” reportedly set Trans-Pacific records two years later. Textron AviationĬessna would continue to improve on his aircraft designs and in 1925 he became the first president of Travel Air Manufacturing Company. His plane would hitch a ride on a trailer to get to said shows. Cessna would take his monoplane to county and state fairs as well as airshows all around the Midwest and reaching as far south as Florida. Cessna’s first aircraft were built out of wood and fabric and each year, Cessna would build new and improved aircraft.
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In 1911, Cessna built his first airplane and through trial and error, taught himself how to fly. Learning that air show exhibitors were paid up to $1,000 per show cemented that dream of flying. There, Cessna found a new dream: taking to the skies. Later, Cessna would run a car dealership.Īs Wings Over Kansas explains, what got Cessna into aviation was seeing a flying exhibition in Oklahoma City. In his early years, Cessna taught himself how to work on machines and used his newfound engineering skills to improve farm machines and farming methods. The story of how Cessna came to be is a motivational one. To understand how Cessna eventually reached the Citation, we must go back to a time when business aviation was still finding its way. However, Cessna’s efforts in business aviation predate the popular Citation. Citations have been Cessna’s business travel bread and butter since its introduction in 1972 and over time, it has become the largest business jet family in the world. Businesspeople are likely more familiar with the Cessna Citation family of private jets. Indeed, the Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the most popular single-engine aircraft ever built and the rental trainer of yours truly.

Here’s how Cessna built a great business plane that ultimately didn’t make it.įor most people, the name Cessna evokes images of little high-wing single-engine piston aircraft found all over the world.

The Cessna 620 was like a mini airliner, and though it was technically advanced, Cessna killed it before it had its chance to shine. Since business aircraft of the day often lacked refinement, Cessna saw an opening for a quad-engine plane to rule them all. Interest in business aircraft also experienced its own rise in demand, and Cessna wanted in. In the years following World War II, general aviation saw a boom in popularity, which Cessna leveraged to produce celebrated aircraft including the ubiquitous 172 Skyhawk.
