Wichita, Air Capital of the World

Wichita, The Air Capital of the World

We would like to introduce you to the entrepreneurial greatness of Wichita Kansas. Due to the tremendous success of the early 20^th century oil discoveries in the Wichita area, capital was available in large enough quantities to fund big time manufacturing of the latest invention in transportation, the Airplane. Subsequently, Wichita has become and remains the “Air Capital of the World”. It has no doubt influenced each of your lives. This ‘Air Capital’ distinction was bestowed annually by the Aviation Chamber of Commerce to the city producing the greatest number of Aircraft each year.[1] Wichita became the recipient in 1928 and has never relinquished the title. More aircraft have been produced in Wichita than any other city in the world to date. Wichita’s various manufacturers have produced more than 250,000 aircraft over the years.

Our focus today will be the very early years of the industry in Wichita from 1915 to 1930 by which time Wichita had been established as a center of airframe and powered flight technology by some of the best-known names in aviation. Household names today were the pioneers of aviation then. Cessna, Beech, Laird, Mooney, Stearman, all became captains of the industry in the early days of powered flight.[2] The companies that eventually resulted from the efforts of these pioneers are many of the premiere manufacturers of today. Raytheon (Beechcraft), Boeing, Textron (Cessna), Spirit AeroSystems, Bombardier (Lear Jet), all belong to the elite aviation manufacturers in the world.

But first came the oil. In 1914 with the discovery of one of the Nation’s largest oil fields up to that time in Eldorado, Kansas, the Eldorado Pool, oilmen Jake Moellendick and Billy Burke diversified into the Aviation field. In 1917 the Cessna Comet became the first airplane built in Wichita. After seeing this, Mollindick and Burke bankrolled Matty Laird in 1920 to come to Wichita and produce his “Laird Swallow” a new and innovative design that became an instant success.[3] The Swallow was the first commercial airplane to be built and sold and had a production run of 43.

In 1925, Lloyd Stearman, Walter Beech, and Clyde Cessna teamed up to form Travel Air, a manufacturer whose planes soon outsold the Swallow Company. Due to a dispute over the wing configuration of its planned models, Stearman left Travel Air in 1926 to go to California, starting the Stearman Aircraft Company. In 1927 Clyde Cessna left to start Cessna Aircraft in Wichita. Also in 1927, Stearman brought his company back to Wichita. In the space of less than a decade the industry of commercial powered flight was born, and its’ roots firmly planted in Wichita.  According to 360Wichita.com, “in 1928 Wichita begins promoting itself as “The Air Capital of the World”. A fitting title as Wichita turned out a quarter of all U.S. aircraft. The city was home to 16 airplane manufacturers, six engine factories, 11 airports, a dozen flying schools and many more suppliers.”[4]

By the early 1930’s Stearman and Boeing through a series of acquisitions and investments were incorporated into United Aircraft and Transport Corporation. Shortly thereafter through anti-trust action the UATC was ordered to divest its manufacturing business. This was the beginning of the world’s most long lived and successful aerospace manufacturing company, Boeing Manufacturing. Eventually the Wichita manufacturing capability was spun off by Boeing to Spirit Aircraft who continues to manufacture Boeing products in Wichita today. Later in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s and beyond we see Learjet,[5] Bombardier, Raytheon, Textron, and Hawker all manufacturing commercial aircraft in Wichita, employing over 30,000 at the height of production.

These modest beginnings have exploded into a contribution of $7 Billion to Kansas GDP, $2.25 Billion in international exports, and the number 3 largest concentration of aviation workers in the U.S. Wichita is also a hotbed of aviation education with Wichita State University’s association with the National Institute for Aviation Research. Beginning in the 1920’s and Offering Engineering education through the PhD level, WSU has become a center for aviation excellence with multiple wind tunnels and laboratories. Due to these world class facilities, Europe’s Air Bus moved its’ Engineering Facility to Wichita. From these small beginnings, Wichita out competed all the larger cities vying for the title of Air Capital of the World.

Bibliography

Bissionette, Bruce, The Wichita 4: Cessna, Moellendick, Beech & Stearman, (from interviews with Matty Laird, Lloyd Stearman, Olive Ann Beech, Dwayne Wallace, Rawdon, Burnham, and other principals), Aviation Heritage Books, Destin, FL, 1999.

Harris, Richard. “Planes on the Plains”, Wichita Aviation History, 2002. Planes on the Plains – Wichita Aviation History (harris1.net)

Kansas Department of Commerce, DOC Website, 2021. Aerospace and Defense in Kansas | Kansas Department of Commerce (kansascommerce.gov)

Rowe, Frank J. & Prof. Craig. Miner. Borne on the South Wind: A Century of Kansas Aviation, Wichita: Wichita Eagle & Beacon Publishing Co., 1994.

Tanner, Beccy, “Wichita aviation started 100 years ago Sept. 1,” September 1, 2016, Wichita Eagle

Tanner, Beccy, “Dreamers fuel Kansas’ legacy of flight,” September 18, 2011, Wichita Eagle

360Wichita.com, “Wichita’s Aviation History”, November 1, 2016. Wichita’s Aviation History (360wichita.com).

 “50 Years of Learjets,”, Flying magazine, October 9, 2013.

[1] Aeronautical Yearbook, 1929, Aeronautical Chamber of Commerce

[2] Frank J. Rowe, & Prof. Craig. Miner, Borne on the South Wind: A Century of Kansas Aviation (Wichita: Wichita Eagle & Beacon Publishing Co., Wichita. 1994), 1-22

[3] Richard Harris, “The Air Capital Story: Early General Aviation & Its Manufacturers“, reprinted from In Flight USA magazine on author’s own website, 2002/2003

[4] 360Wichita.com, “Wichita’s Aviation History”, November 1, 2016. Wichita’s Aviation History (360wichita.com)

[5]  “50 Years of Learjets,”, Flying magazine, October 9, 2013.