From the moment in 1911 when he saw a flying exhibition in Oklahoma City, Clyde Cessna’s greatest wish was to fly. When he learned that aviators were paid as much as $1,000 per show, the wish became a life-changing opportunity for the 30-year-old Kansas farmer and car salesman.
Not only was Clyde the founder of our company and the inventor of our earliest models, he was also our first customer. His relationship with aviation was like that of nearly 200,000 Cessna customers in the years to come. Built on opportunities and desires and fueled by a passion for flight that refused to be denied.
