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

Verified

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, successfully producing biplanes like the Travel Air Model A.
Driven by his preference for monoplanes, Cessna independently developed designs like the Type 500 and 5000, which featured enclosed cabins and semi-cantilever wings, achieving several aviation milestones.
In 1927, Cessna left Travel Air to establish his own venture, which ultimately became the Cessna Aircraft Company, pioneering the development and certification of full cantilever wing monoplanes.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.