Textron celebrates Cessna, Beechcraft anniversaries

October 18, 2022 By Eric Blinderman

Textron Aviation celebrated three major milestones during the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida: 95 years of Cessna, 90 years of Beechcraft, and 75 years of the Bonanza.

CEO Ron Draper indicated that more than 250,000 aircraft have flown under the banner of Textron and its brands over the years, many more than any other U.S. aviation company.

Draper also took pride in the fact that he flew a Beechcraft Baron from the Beech Party in Tullahoma, Tennessee, to Orlando for the event. “It was smooth sailing the whole way until right before Orlando—I joined a lot of planes in the airspace here,” he explained.

Draper also spoke with pride about the Special Olympics Airlift, a Textron initiative in which more than 100 Cessna Citation, Beechcraft King Air, Beechcraft Premier, Beechcraft Beechjet, and Hawker aircraft owners and operators donated the use of their aircraft, fuel, and pilots to transport Special Olympics athletes and coaches to the Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando in June.

“The Special Olympics Airlift shows what private aviation can do to help people,” Draper said.

Eric Blinderman

Senior Director of Communications

Eric Blinderman is AOPA’s Senior Director of Communications. Eric joined AOPA in 2020 after several years at leading marketing/communications agencies in New York and is looking forward to putting his newly minted private pilot certificate to work.

Go to Eric Blinderman's Profile

Topics: National Business Aviation Association, Aviation Industry

Textron celebrates Cessna, Beechcraft anniversaries

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