Walter Beech
American aviator and entrepreneur (1891-1950)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Walter Herschel Beech (January 30, 1891 – November 29, 1950) was an American aviator and early aviation entrepreneur who co-founded the Beech Aircraft Company (now called Beechcraft) in 1932 with his wife, Olive Ann Beech, and a team of three others.[2]
Walter Herschel Beech | |
|---|---|
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| Born | January 30, 1891 |
| Died | November 29, 1950 (aged 59) |
| Occupations | Test pilot, entrepreneur, United States Army Air Forces aviator |
| Known for | Co-founder of the Beech Aircraft Corporation |
| Spouse | Olive Ann Beech |
| Children | 2r[1] |
Biography
He was born in Pulaski, Tennessee, on January 30, 1891. Beech started flying in 1905, at age 14, when he built a glider of his own design. Then, after flying for the United States Army during World War I, he joined the Swallow Airplane Company as a test pilot. He later became general manager of the company. In 1924, he, Lloyd Stearman, and Clyde Cessna formed Travel Air Manufacturing Company. When the company merged with Curtiss-Wright, Beech became vice-president.[3]
In 1932, he and his wife, Olive Ann Beech, along with Ted Wells, K.K. Shaul, and investor C.G. Yankey, co-founded the Beech Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas.[4] Their early Beechcraft planes won the Bendix Trophy. During World War II, Beech Aircraft produced more than 7,400 military aircraft. The twin Beech AT-7/C-45 trained more than 90 percent of the U.S. Army Air Forces navigator/bombardiers. The company went on to become one of the "big three" in American general aviation aircraft manufacturing during the 20th century (along with Cessna and Piper).
Beech died from a heart attack on November 29, 1950.[5] He and his wife are buried at Old Mission Mausoleum in Wichita.
In 1977, Beech was posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.[6] at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and 1982, he was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.[7]
In 2023, Beech was inducted, along with his wife into the Paul E Garber First Flight Shrine in Kill Devil Hills, NC.[8]
