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 to the production of successful biplanes.
While with Travel Air, Cessna independently pursued his preference for monoplanes, developing the successful Type 500 and its improved variant, the Type 5000, which set several aviation milestones.
Driven by his vision for strutless, full cantilever wings—a concept his Travel Air partners didn't share—Clyde Cessna established the Cessna Aircraft Company in 1927.
He famously proved the exceptional strength of his pioneering full cantilever wing design through rigorous load tests, far exceeding certification requirements.

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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.