The roots of business aviation extend back to the years after World War I. Initially, open-cockpit biplanes were used for promotion and direct marketing, with company logos painted on the sides of the fuselages. Closed-cabin monoplanes with more reliable engines were designed in the late 1920s. They enticed business travelers with a measure of comfort and a greater sense of security.
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TRAVEL AIR MODEL 6000-BIn the early 1930s, Smiling Thru, a Travel Air Model 6000-B monoplane, was the "private air office" of H. L. Ogg, president of the Automatic Washer Company of Newton, Iowa. The interior contained seating for five, a wash room, and a typing table. By removing the seats, three washing machines could also be carried in the cabin and connected to an auxiliary power unit for demonstrations. |
| BEECH STAGGERWING
Roomy and expensive, the classic Beech Staggerwing defied all odds by becoming a successful corporate aircraft during the depths of the Depression. Introduced by Walter Beech in 1932, it had a top speed of 320 kilometers (200 miles) per hour, low landing speed, retractable landing gear, and good visibility and handling characteristics. It began a long line of business aircraft by Beech Aircraft, now part of the Raytheon Corporation, which continues today. |
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