Soul of Kansas: Cessna's vision helped state become aviation capital

Kansas: the land of great opportunity. In the late 1800s, hardy entrepreneurial settlers looked at Kansas' wide open spaces and saw a place where great ideas could take root. It was here that a group of idealistic and ambitious men and women strived to launch an industry that would not only put Kansas on the map, but change the way the world traveled.

Not long after the Wright brothers' successful flight at Kitty Hawk, aviation became a burgeoning industry right here in the center of the nation. In fact, more than 60 aircraft designers and manufacturers called Kansas home over the years, some of which built only one aircraft, while others went on to build thousands. As a result, aviation has become one of the state's most tremendous transformational contributions to the world and today is home to many of the industry's leading aerospace companies.

One early pioneer was Clyde Vernon Cessna. A self-taught mechanic with a creative streak, he had a dream to build a flying machine. On a spring day 100 years ago, in 1911, on the Great Salt Plains in northern Oklahoma, 31-year-old Clyde, and his brother Roy, celebrated Clyde's first successful flight. Never mind that he had made 12 other attempts prior to this one, all ending in crashes. In spite of expensive repairs and personal injury, he remained determined. Thankfully, the 13th time was a charm.

Clyde's determination willed him to successfully build and fly his first airplane, called Silver Wings. But it was what he accomplished after that early experience that would cement the name Cessna as an icon in the world of aviation. After moving his family back to Rago, Kan., in the fall of 1911, Clyde began barnstorming throughout the Midwest, demonstrating the marvels of flying at county fairs and exhibitions. He flew Silver Wings until 1913, when he introduced a new monoplane. For the next several years, he would modify the design of a new airplane each winter to incorporate improvements based on the past season's flying activities.

Clyde eventually became the first to manufacture powered aircraft in Wichita (1916) and was a pivotal figure in Wichita becoming the Air Capital of the World. He collaborated with Walter Beech (Beechcraft) and Lloyd Stearman (Boeing), among others, before setting out on his own, forming the Cessna Aircraft Co. in 1927.

Since that time nearly 85 years ago, Cessna Aircraft Co. has been a cornerstone of aviation in Kansas. More than 192,500 airplanes have been designed, produced and delivered by Cessna to customers around the globe. Kansas aviation companies deliver approximately 50 percent of all general aviation airplanes. That is why airplanes and airplane parts remain the top export in the state with a little more than 20 percent of the overall Kansas exports, more than any other industry in Kansas.

Throughout its nearly century-long foothold in Kansas, aviation has brought millions of highly skilled, highly technical jobs to the state. People are what make Kansas tick and great jobs are what keep us going. The men and women who design and build Cessna airplanes are proud to be called Cessnans. I am proud to walk the floors of our factory and meet with Cessnans each week to hear their ideas about ways to improve quality and safety, save cost and simply to make Cessna better. They are loyal to Cessna and to Kansas.

Aviation also has brought technology advancements to Kansas and the world. Through programs like NIAR (National Institute for Aviation Research) at Wichita State University and NCAT (National Center for Aviation Training) at the Wichita Area Technical College, aviation technology has grown beyond what was once imaginable.

Climbing into the cockpit of a modern aircraft, pilots have every tool and system required to ensure a safe and efficient flight. Today's flight decks are equipped with synthetic vision displays that create a three-dimensional view of the terrain ahead. Datalinked satellite weather provides a near real-time view of weather conditions and hazards from takeoff to landing. "Smart" aircraft systems provide the pilot a complete view of the aircraft's health and alert the pilot when there is a problem. Cessna's new ClairityTM cabin technology system introduced this year for several of our Citations, will allow passengers to stay connected and productive even when flying at 40,000 feet.

Everywhere I have lived, playing a part in the betterment of the community has always been very important to me. The aviation community in Kansas is among the most generous group of people I have been part of. Giving more than $5 million on average per year to the United Way of the Plains in Kansas as an aviation community is quite impressive and truly makes an impact. For the past several years, Cessna has donated more than 1 million pounds of food to the Kansas Food Bank Warehouse each year. This truly touches the heart of Kansas.

Exports, jobs, technology and community betterment are just naming a few of the reasons aviation has had such an impact on the state of Kansas. On average, aviation contributes approximately $6-7 billion annually to the Kansas economy, 15 percent of all manufacturing jobs in Kansas are in aviation and each aviation job generates an additional two to three jobs.

There will always be healthy competition between the general aviation manufacturers in Kansas, but being a part of the state's history gives us a sense of community. Knowing the impact aviation has on Kansas, the United States and the world, Cessna and other aviation manufactures alike can truly be proud.

Though I have lived all over the world during my career, Kansas has always been a place I can call home. Since I am a native Kansan it's easy for me to see why Clyde picked such a truly special place to create his dream nearly 85 years ago. Kansans are down-to-earth, hard working, creative, intelligent, loyal and innovative people who know how to get the job done. Clyde found a place he could call home, trust his neighbors to help make his dreams come true and put is lasting mark on the world - a flying machine.

Thank you to all the men and women who made aviation possible and brought it to the great state of Kansas. Especially thank you to Mr. Cessna for his bravery, perseverance and the beginning of something wonderful - Cessna Aircraft Co. and a long history of aviation in Kansas.

Scott Ernest is the chief executive officer of Cessna Aircraft Co., which is headquartered in Wichita.