From the moment in 1911 when he saw a flying exhibition in Oklahoma City, Clyde Cessna’s greatest wish was to fly. When he learned that aviators were paid as much as $1,000 per show, the wish became a life-changing opportunity for the 30-year-old Kansas farmer and car salesman.
Not only was Clyde the founder of our company and the inventor of our earliest models, he was also our first customer. His relationship with aviation was like that of nearly 200,000 Cessna customers in the years to come. Built on opportunities and desires and fueled by a passion for flight that refused to be denied.
| 1927 |
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Clyde V. Cessna and Victor H. Roos form a partnership. This leads to the formation of the Cessna-Roos Aircraft Company on September 7. On December 22, the secretary of state approves a name change to Cessna Aircraft Company.
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| 1928 |
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The first Cessna A-series aircraft is delivered to Edwin A. Link of Pittsburgh, Pa., on February 28 for $6,500.
The first Model BW rolls off the production line in March.
Type certification is issued for the Model AA on August 27.
Cessna rolls out its first six-passenger plane, the Model CW-6, on November 1.
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| 1929 |
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The Cessna DC-6 is certified.
The Cessna DC-6A and DC-6B earn certification on October 29, sharing this day in history with the Great Stock Market Crash.
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| 1930 |
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Designed by Eldon Cessna, the company produced and sold 300, Cessna CG-2 single-seat gliders that helped the company through the hard times of the Depression.
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| 1933 |
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The Cessna CR-3 custom racer makes its first flight on June 11. The plane wins the 1933 American Air Race in Chicago and later sets a new world speed record for engines smaller than 500 cubic inches by averaging 237.4 mph.
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| 1934 |
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After being forced out of the company in 1931, Clyde is re-instated as president January 17, 1934 thanks to the hard work of nephews Dwane and Dwight Wallace. They teamed to contact every Cessna shareholder to help Clyde regain control of the company.
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| 1935 |
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The first production C-34 is sold.
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| 1937 |
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The Cessna C-37 is introduced. When equipped with Edo floats, it becomes the first Cessna model to receive seaplane approval.
A prototype of the C-38 is unveiled on October 11. It becomes the first Cessna airplane to be called the Airmaster.
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| 1939 |
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The T-50 prototype makes its first flight with Dwane Wallace at the controls on March 26. The plane is certified in December.
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