The late 1950s were an exciting time for Cessna. Demand for general aviation aircraft was robust, and thus, the company invested significant resources into identifying and pursuing emerging markets. One such market during that time was corporate travel.
Corporate aviation had existed for decades, but the post-war environment rekindled the segment. A handful of companies converted larger, former military types into executive aircraft, but most new models under development—such as the Aero Commander 500 series and Beechcraft Queen Air—had relatively small cabins. Others, like the Twin Beech, were relatively slow and lacked pressurization. Cessna saw an opportunity.
