Cessna’s Pursuit of a Full Cantilever Monoplane

The aviation pioneer joined Travel Air, but soon struck out on his own again.

Monday, December 12, 2022 at 06:05 PM ET

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Clyde Cessna started into the aircraft business in Wichita with partners in the Travel Air Company, but soon after struck out on his own again to build Cessna’s full cantilever wing monoplanes. [Courtesy Kansas Aviation Museum]

Key Takeaways:

Clyde Cessna co-founded the Travel Air Company in 1925 with Lloyd Stearman and Walter Beech, contributing his largest financial stake and developing popular biplanes.
While at Travel Air, Cessna independently designed the Type 500/5000 monoplane featuring an enclosed cabin and semi-cantilever wing, which achieved significant flight milestones.
Dissatisfied with biplanes and driven by his vision for full cantilever wings, Cessna left Travel Air to establish the Cessna Aircraft Company in 1927.
He successfully demonstrated the strength of his innovative full cantilever wing design with models like the Cessna Common/Phantom, which became the first of its kind to gain a type certificate.

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In the first part of this short biography on Clyde Cessna—in honor of his birthday last week—his early years that led him to Wichita, and his first airplanes, come to light.

Cessna joined Lloyd Stearman and Walter Beech in establishing the Travel Air Company as 1925 began. Though the trio had the backing of the local business community, each had a financial stake as well—Cessna’s being the largest, at $25,000, according to The Legend of Cessna, by Jeffrey L. Rodengen.