'Change' Isn't Exactly A New Idea...
A lot can happen in 70 years. The
price of a new car, for example, averaged $763 in 1938. Fueling
that car cost about twenty cents per gallon.
Change isn't new... though having a front row seat to that
change is monumental, and something Executive Beechcraft has
enjoyed for seven, long decades leading up to its November 15
Anniversary celebration.
Since 1938, Executive Beechcraft, Inc. has been an integral part
of the Kansas City and St. Louis communities. In fact, Kansas
Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Missouri Governor Matt Blunt noted
the company’s business leadership and longevity in both
states with official proclamations declaring November 15, 2008 as
Executive Beechcraft Day.
Today, the company is considered one of the most well recognized
general aviation fixed-base operators in the country, specializing
in aircraft sales and support, maintenance, avionics and aircraft
management. Outside the aviation industry specifically, Executive
Beechcraft likely touched the lives of many Kansas and Missouri
individuals in those same 70 years -- whether it was a neighbor
learning to fly, a child watching his or her first air show or a
dad leaving for a business trip.
"We’ve been here through it all," said Ed Chevrestt, Vice
President and General Manager of Executive Beechcraft. "In fact,
EB’s downtown Kansas City facility even dates back to the
founding days of Trans World Airlines (TWA), where Howard Hughes
himself had an office!"
For corporate America, Executive Beechcraft has long helped
business and industry climb to success with an unmatched business
tool, the airplane. Even before corporate aviation earned
widespread attention, Executive Beechcraft had a hand in early
business air travel -- especially with the entrepreneurial
community for which Kansas City is known.
Executive Beechcraft says its heartland location has also served
it well -- particularly its downtown Kansas City facility at the
Charles B. Wheeler Airport (MKC). As general aviation, corporate
and cargo/freight aircraft navigate cross country, Executive
Beechcraft is geographically centered as an ideal midway point for
refueling and crew rest, as well as providing aircraft maintenance
when needed. In fact, in the shadows of Kansas City’s
bustling downtown skyline, as many as 700 aircraft per day take off
or land at this airport, originally dedicated by Charles Lindbergh
back in 1927.
The company is also involved in civic, charitable and community
efforts such Challenge Air which introduces physically handicapped
children to aviation; Angel Flight Central which arranges free
non-emergency flights for patients and their families to
specialized medical treatment across the country as well as
disaster response and compassion flights, and Midwest Transplant
Network which provides air transport of life saving organs to
patients in need of a new heart, kidney or liver.
Of course, Executive Beechcraft has experienced its own change
over the years. The company that began as a family business was
sold in 2007, and is now a part of BBA Aviation, a global provider
of aviation services and flight support based in London. More
change is on the way for EB, with a renovation now in progress at
its downtown flagship facility. The project is expected to be
complete in early 2009.
"The EB family is a great team with a proud 70 year tradition,"
Chevrestt said. "Seventy years in this competitive business is a
testament to company founder Dan Meisinger, Sr. and the people who
have made EB a success."
In addition to celebrating its 70th anniversary at the downtown
Kansas City facility, Executive Beechcraft will be celebrating at
each of its three other locations: Kansas City’s
International Airport (MCI), Johnson County’s New Century
Airport (IXD) and Spirit of St. Louis Airport (SUS).