Cessna Company: History and Development Research Paper

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Abstract

Clyde Cessna had a dream that one day he would own an airplane company. He wanted to be the greatest manufacturer of airplanes. Clyde started by working with a friend in the business. After he had lost his friend in a plane competition accident, he gave up his dream. His nephew Dwayne took over his father’s company together with his brother. They started the Cessna Aircraft Company. It is the company that started developing the Cessna 170 model. After several months, they developed the model with new features and came up with Cessna 172. The 172 types of planes had several models.

From 172A to 172M, there had been over 30,000 aircraft. They changed the name to Skyhawk and marketed the new planes under the name. The planes have been helpful to private citizens. They have been able to use them for racing and private affairs. The corporate world has also adopted for business purposes. The United States Air Force has had the opportunity to use them in the aircraft academies for undergraduate students. Other countries have also used them for military purposes. Several aircraft schools have also used the 172 model and the Skyhawk for training and examining their students. In 1986, the company stopped the production of aircraft because of the increase in the cost of production. However, the process resumed in the 1990s after the company managed to get funds for its operation

Introduction

Cessna’s story is an example of strong will. The 172 airplane was a follow-up development of the Cessna 170. The Cessna 172 has evolved over the years with the introduction of A to Q class planes. The paper would discuss the Cessna 172 milestone achievements over the years.

Brief History

A farmer in Rago, Kansas became the first person to construct and fly a powered plane in America. Clyde Cessna started building and experimenting with airplanes in Oklahoma. But he could not get financiers for his venture and so he moved to another State. Cessna found three friends and managed to start the Travel Air Manufacturing Company. In 1927, he started the Cessna Aircraft Company (Administration, 2004).

The company specialized in monoplanes and managed to launch about 7 in the same year. In the autumn of 1929, the Wall Street predicaments caused the sales to drop. The company tried to slash its prices, but it could not save its imminent collapse. The board of directors fired Cessna and closed down the company (Smith, 2010).

He left and went back to the Travel Air abandoned complex and restarted the Cessna Aircraft Company with his son. They started building custom racing planes. However, during the races, his best friend died in a crash in one of the planes. He gave up and went back to his farm. In 1934, Wallace Dwayne and his brother took over their father’s company and restarted the Cessna Aircraft Company (Administration, 2004).

In 1948, the company improved the 140 models to 170. The new model was a 145 horsepower Continental engine. It first flew in late 1955. In 1956 the company produced over 1,000 planes and made significant sales. It was the beginning of the 170s series. They were the improved version planes with similar designs.

Product and Product Adjustments

The company made some improvements on the Cessna 170 and the modified version model 170C had to change so that it can become Cessna 172. It was to reduce the time and cost of certification. The early models looked like the 170models until the manufacturers made adjustments.

The 172A had the adjustments on the landing gear and the tail fin (Shiel, Forsgren & Little, 2006). The modifications in all the other models of 172 involved the engine power, the tail shape, the rear space, the rear window and the fuel tank. Other changes varied on the wings, water landing components, the windshield, and very many other adjustments.

The Cessna 172 set the world record for flight endurance in 1958. Robert Timm and John Cook used the Cessna 172 to set the record in over 60 days. It was also a fundraiser program for the Cancer Fund. No other aircraft in its class has ever performed on this record.

The 172A came into place in 1960 with a Continental 145 horsepower engine. It had a gross weight of 998 kilograms. It had float fittings, radar and swept-back tailfin. 172B followed with shorter landing gear and a pointed propeller spinner in 1961.

172C had an optional autopilot and key starter. The 1962 model allowed the seats to be adjustable with an option for carrying children. The 1963 model was the 172D. It had a rear window, new radar, and brake pedals. The 1964 model replaced the electric fuses with circuit breakers. It was 172 E (Smith, 2010). It had increased weight to 1,043 kg. The production of the model continued to grow over the years.

The 1965 model was the 172F. The French-owned subsidiary company called Reims was responsible for its construction. It had electrically operated flaps. The United States Air Force used them in flight training for the Undergraduate Pilot Training. It remained in use from the 1960s till the 1970s. 172 G had a pointed spinner. The last Continental 0-300 powered model was the 172H. The company developed another model called the Skyhawk which was selling side by side with the continued innovation of the 172s. In 1968, 172I started using the Lycoming 0-320 engine of 150 hp (Shiel, Forsgren & Little, 2006).

Other models from 172J-172M continued to come into being over the years. They had more advanced features ranging from the door, tail, interior designs and engine power. The passenger capacity also had increased from two passengers to four passengers. From 1976, Cessna dropped the 172 model name for Skyhawk. It relocated the fuel gauges for easier readability. Skyhawk N, O, and P also developed new features. Skyhawk P used the Lycoming 0-320 engine which was more powerful. The landing lights moved from the nose to the wing (Smith, 2010).

Challenges

The company had to cancel some models because of a few complications. In 1986, the company stopped manufacturing due to increased insurance and operation costs. Textron Inc. bought Cessna to continue its functioning. The company managed to sort out the challenges and manufacturing, and sales continued. “It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade” (Mark 4:31-32, New International Version).

Conclusion

Cessna is a company that has lasted over 50 years. It has become one of the most renowned companies due to the continued evolution and revolution of its products and services. It has served the military, private and public interests in the transport industry.

References

Administration, F. (2004). Airplane flying handbook. Oklahoma, OK: AAR Distribution. Web.

Shiel, W., Forsgren, J., & Little, M. (2006). T-41 Mescalero. Lake Linden, MI: Slip down Mountain Publications. Web.

Smith, R. (2010). Cessna 172. Stroud, UK: Amberley Publishing. Web.

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