Beechcraft Logo

Originating from Wichita, Kansas, Beechcraft is a renowned American enterprise producing general aviation aircraft. The company’s product lineup extends from small piston-driven airplanes to larger turboprop and jet aircraft. The enterprise was founded by Walter Beech and his wife Olive Ann in 1932 and was initially known as Beech Aircraft Company.

Historically, Beechcraft has produced several popular models, such as the Bonanza, Baron, King Air, and Queen Air aircraft. Today, their production is centered around the Bonanza G36 piston plane, the King Air turboprop, and the Premier jet. Beechcraft was a trailblazer in introducing the V-tail aircraft configuration, where the tail surfaces are organized in a V-shape as opposed to the conventional T-shape, a feature prominently displayed on early Bonanza models.

The business ownership of Beechcraft has seen numerous changes over the years. In 1980, the company fell under the control of the defense contractor Raytheon, which sold Beechcraft to Goldman Sachs in 2006. The acquisition led to the birth of Hawker Beechcraft. However, by 2012, Beechcraft had resurfaced as an independent entity, discontinuing jet production to focus exclusively on turboprop and piston aircraft.

In a significant development in 2019, Textron Aviation acquired Beechcraft, positioning it as their brand for single-engine piston aircraft, while Cessna was marked as their twin-engine piston brand. Over the years, Beechcraft’s planes, numbering in the thousands, have been built and flown globally, gaining popularity for recreational use, business travel, and flight training. Among these, the King Air series has proved to be one of their most successful aircraft.