Beechcraft
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. In 2002, the Beechcraft brand was revived. Today, Beechcraft continues as a strong brand of Raytheon Aircraft. Since its inception Beech has resided in
Wichita, Kansas, also the home of chief competitor
Cessna Aircraft Company.
Beechcraft aircraft include:
Civilian
*
Model 17 Staggerwing *
Model 18*
Model 23 Musketeer and Sundowner
*
Model 24 Sierra*
Model 33 Debonair*
Model 35 and 36 Bonanza*
Model 50 Twin Bonanza*
Model 55 & 58 Baron*
Model 60 Duke*
Model 65 Queen Air*
Model 76 Duchess*
Model 77 Skipper*
Models 90, 100, 200, 300 and 350 King Air*
Model 95 Travel Air*
Model 99 Airliner
*
Model 400 Beechjet*
Model 1900 Commuter
*
Model 2000 Starship *
Beechcraft T-6A/B Joint primary aircraft training system
*
Model 390 Premier IA Entry Level Jet
Military
*
XA-38 Grizzly*
AT-7 Navigator*
C-6 Ute*
C-12 Huron*
C-43 Traveler*
C-45 Expeditor*
CT-128 Expeditor*
CT-134 Musketeer*
CT-145 Super Kingair*
RC-12 Guard Rail*
T-1 Jayhawk*
T-34 Mentor*
T-42 Cochise*
U-8 Seminole*
U-21 Ute*
Harvard II trainer
Drones
*
AQM-37 Jayhawk*
MQM-61A Cardinal*
Beechcraft Division web site*
Aircraft-Info.net - Beechcraft*
RTP-TV AeroSpace Show: 1942 Beech C45 Aerobatic Video*
Beech Aero Club (Owners and Pilots Association)
