Clyde Cessna

[@TheAirplaneDriver]

I’m sitting in my hangar this morning, enjoying a cup of coffee and watching this video, with my 1947 Cessna 140 parked behind me. 77 years old… still looks great and still going strong (the airplane). I’ve flown it enough hours to have circled the globe 6 times. Clyde and company sure knew how to build airplanes!

[@Kevin_747]

I feel the same about my '55 C-180. I bought it in 1984 and don't want to know how much I've spent on it because its worth every penny.

[@chrisberardi2304]

Amazing how this area of the country fostered companies like Cessna and Beechcraft. And how they built something from almost nothing, while living a basic life.

[@0235L]

I got my private pilot license in a Cessna 152 back in 1992 but never knew about Clyde until watching this interesting video.

[@george1la]

Great story, I never knew any of this. These people were really inventive.

[@dalebob7405]

Nice video, thank you. I learned to fly in Wichita in the 70's. Had the honor of meeting Mr. Wallace, a true gentleman. One correction on the names of the early Cessna's, the early 172 was called a Skyhawk, you called it a Skylark which didn't come along until 1958 as the 175. I've owned a 175 for 14 years now named Speedy the 175. Keep up the good work.

[@stevewallace1117]

My father helped build Stearmans during WWll.

[@whalesong999]

Duane Wallace had one of his original "Airmaster" models at the Augusta, Ks Municipal airport while I worked there in the mid '80s. It was kept in an air conditioned hangar and at that time, we had a fuel truck we took to a hangar to refuel an airplane. The Airmaster was a challenge to fuel with such a small fueling port in the top of the wing. Had to be super careful of no spills.

[@SatelliteYL]

This was a great story and I thank you for posting this video. God bless America for producing men like this, who could build a huge and successful company from such humble beginnings as living in the loft of the barn in which you homebuilt your own airplanes! Wow

[@13donstalos]

Very interesting!

[@tomlovejoy9899]

Skyhawk, not Skylark.

[@BlasphemousBill2023]

Thanks much, I enjoyed it!

[@MarkShinnick]

The government took no part in this expression of creativity and enterprise.

[@storiesfromthedepthsofspac6413]

There is a lesson there.

[@captainemeritus5927]

There is no record of an “air circus” of touring stunt pilots in 1910! The wing walker photo was taken after WW1. That brings the veracity of the entire report into question.

[@davidursin2150]

The Moisants. American businessman John Moisant learned to fly in France, then formed the Moisant International Aviators in 1910. Operating as a touring “flying circus,” the team included his sister, Matilde, and Harriet Quimby, the first two American women to earn pilot's licenses.