Beechcraft

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The Beech Aircraft Corporation, now the Beechcraft Division of Raytheon, is a manufacturer of general aviation and military aircraft, ranging from light single engine aircraft to business jets and light military transports. Beech airplanes, called Beechcrafts by the company and their many fans, have a long-standing reputation as being among the best made aircraft available. They are also invariable among the most expensive planes in their class.

Beechcraft was founded in 1932 by Walter H. Beech and his wife Olive Ann. The Beeches began operations in an idle Cessna factory. With designer Ted Wells, they developed their first aircraft, the classic Beech Staggerwing model 17, which flew for the first time in November 1932. Over 750 Staggerwings were built, with 270 manufactured for the U.S. Army during World War II.

After the war, the Staggerwing was replaced by the revolutionary Beechcraft Bonanza. Perhaps the best known Beech aircraft, the single-engine Bonanza has been manufactured for nearly 60 years. Other important Beech planes are the King Air line of twin-engine turboprops, in production since 1964, and the Baron, a twin-engine variant of the Bonanza.

In 1950, Olive Ann Beech was installed as president and CEO of the company, after the sudden death of her husband Walter from a heart attack on November 29th of that year. She continued as CEO until Beech was purchased by Raytheon Company on February 8, 1980.

In 1994, Raytheon merged Beech into the Hawker product line they had acquired the previous year from British Aerospace, forming Raytheon Aircraft Company. This was a very unpopular move among the Beechcraft faithful and in 2002 the merger decision was reversed, reviving Beechcraft as a brand. Today the company continues as the Beechcraft Division of Raytheon Aircraft. Since its inception Beech has resided in Wichita, Kansas, also the home of chief competitor Cessna Aircraft Company.