Olive Ann Beech: The First Lady of Aviation
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Among the earliest and most influential people to emerge in the flight industry was Olive Ann Beech, co-founder of the Beechcraft Aircraft Corporation. Olive Ann led the company as it built iconic planes for civilians and the military, and helped to design important technology for NASA. In her decades of work with Beechcraft, she became affectionately known as “The First Lady of Aviation.”
Special Thanks and photo credit to the San Diego Air and Space Museum. sandiegoairand...
This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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Script by JCG
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That was fun and brought back memories of my mom. My mom started her advertising career in Kansas City in the 60s. The agency she worked for had the Beechcraft account and Old Lady Beech insisted that all writers on the account be pilots. So my mom learned and got her pilots license. And she wrote several award winning advertisements for Beech. Thanks for the great throwback memories.
That’s very cool. Your mom sounds amazing in her own right.
I met Olive Ann as a young pilot in the late '70's, which was a highlight of a Wichita tour. The impression left of her personality was that of a straight forward no nonsense business person.
I am a licensed pilot and a licensed aircraft mechanic. I grew up in Denver and worked for Denver Beechcraft for several years. Olive Ann Beech was an inspiration to all of us at Beechcraft. I toured the Wichita factory in 1965. I was so impressed with the quality control there compared to the Cessna and Lear Jet Factories there. She was a remarkable leader. Thanks, History Guy.
Talk about coincidence! I had this video pop up as I'm working on a Beechcraft Baron at work! We even have a few V-tail Bonanza's in the hangar too. I have a new appreciation for the company now!
I installed custom interiors and repainted aircraft in college, and beechcraft always seemed more heavy and substantial than the pipers or cessna's I worked on. I didn't mind working on them, but they just felt different, if that makes any sense. (I was a technician, working under the supervision of licensed mechanics.)
@@Myopicvisions Cool that you recognized the quality of those aircraft as an assistant, they must be awesome!
@@Myopicvisions I've always felt that Beechcraft were built like brick outhouses. I don't see how they get off the ground.
@@Myopicvisions oh believe me I totally understand!! It's almost like they're. Not meant to be taken apart once everything is together! We had a helluva time trying to put interior back together. Cessna's are SUPER maintenance friendly and pipers are about 50/50 whereas Beechcrafts are very maintenance unfriendly. At least when running avionics is concerned! I don't do engine work so that part may be easier!
@@donaldstanfield8862 Thanks! It's really fun getting to work on them and I'm like a kid in a candy store seeing all the new planes we get!
When I graduated in 1980 with an aero engineering degree I was offered a job to work at Beechcraft. I showed up for my plant visit to see if I wanted to work there and no one was able to give me a tour. Mrs. Beech some how heard of my situation and gave me a tour of the plant and then took me to lunch at the cafeteria for the executives. I will never forget her grace and her knowledge of aircraft and just what a nice person she was. Thanks for this video, she certainly deserved it.
See the Sept 2004 edition of " Air & Space Smithsonian " for the article " Beached Starship " that outlines the cutting edge and somewhat troubled Beech Starship aircraft. As a side note, there are a handful of the 53 planes still flying.
To quote " . . . ( in the early 1980's ) As tensions grew between Rutan and Beech, they also grew between Beech and Raytheon. Beech's genteel culture buckled under the abrupt ways of its new parent. Since 1950, Beech had been run by Walter Beech's much younger widow, Olive Ann. Mrs Beech would put yellow " happy face " stickers on the office doors of meritorious executives. Company picnics were courtly, civilized affairs."
It then goes on to say how Raytheons clamps tightened with Mrs Beech being pushed aside. Between 82 and 89 there were 3 presidents and 4 engineering VPs leaving the company in a constant state of flux.
I had the great opportunity to meet Ms. Beech when she was part of the delivery team when they delivered a brand new King Air to Sun Aviation at Gillespie Field in El Cajon just east of San Diego in the early 70’s. She was a formidable pilot and being a young student in pilot training I was lucky enough to go with the owner of Sun Aviation for the delivery flight. I wasn’t so happy when she demonstrated how well the King Air flew after shutting down the right #2 engine. What felt like eternity she trimmed the aircraft after shutdown and performed every flight maneuver in the engine out procedure chapter of the aircraft manual. She restarted the right #2 engine and the new owner took control of the aircraft and we went through the same procedures again. She also mentioned she was going to meet with people from the San Diego Aerospace Museum. This was before the Museum burned down and was rebuilt with contribution from Beech Craft and thousands of other donators like herself. The picture you showed today is the new Museum. I had the opportunity to visit both. My step father was instrumental in rebuilding the new Museum and was on the board until his death in 2011.
I went to the San Diego “air and space” Museum, just a bunch of empty rooms.
@@BikingVikingHH - I think they are expecting El Toro’s museum to be closing and expecting several aircraft to be moved in. It was really something before the fire destroyed it. Not sure what’s going on and I haven’t been home in 17 years. I need to go home again.
Early in my 45 year career in aviation, I was fortunate to meet Olive Ann Beech in October 1977. She was a very cordial, very business-like woman. At the same time I had an interesting conversation with her nephew, then Beech president, Frank Hedrick about his thoughts about hydrogen powered aircraft, which they were experimenting with at the time using a Beech model 60 Duke.
My grandpa worked at Beech building the model 18. He would tell me stories of how those in the factory highly respected Olive Beech. Like a lot of old folks, he would often repeat the same stories over and over again as he was losing his memory - forgetting he recently told me the same story a short time earlier. One such story was him meeting Olive Beech and having his photo taken with her. Clearly, that memory was important to him since he was able to hold on to that one till the very end.
It was a strange coincidence that Saturday night I was telling my daughter about Olive Beech, and how she was able to accomplish so much in an era when it was not the norm for a woman to run a large business. May her legacy continue to be an inspiration for future generations to look up to.
My mother had a picture of Olive Ann on our livingroom wall and regaled us kids w/ talks about other strong women through history, like Amelia Earhardt, etc. My mother flew air taxi service during WW2, farrying planes across country from the factories out of Michigan (an episode of THG was made about these civilian pilots), logging a few thousand flight hours. Both my parents flew, so naturally, I flew as soon as I was able. I flew my parent's Bonanza V-tail for my solo, as well as on a business trip or two. That little plane prooved itself when I attempted a cross-wind landing and almost got blown off the runway by a big gust, just as I was about to touch down, scraping the light on the tip of the left wing off, but doing no other damage. I was able to keep control and made a go-round, but was able to land on my next attempt. Never felt so good to be grounded in my life.
As a Beechcraft owner, I approve of this history that deserves to be remembered.
See the Sept 2004 edition of " Air & Space Smithsonian " for the article " Beached Starship " that outlines the cutting edge and somewhat troubled Beech Starship aircraft. As a side note, there are a handful of the 53 planes still flying. To quote " . . . ( in the early 1980's ) As tensions grew between Rutan and Beech, they also grew between Beech and Raytheon. Beech's genteel culture buckled under the abrupt ways of its new parent. Since 1950, Beech had been run by Walter Beech's much younger widow, Olive Ann. Mrs Beech would put yellow " happy face " stickers on the office doors of meritorious executives. Company picnics were courtly, civilized affairs." It then goes on to say how Raytheons clamps tightened with Mrs Beech being pushed aside. Between 82 and 89 there were 3 presidents and 4 engineering VPs leaving the company in a constant state of flux.
Ok, this was awesome! I'm a pilot; a Beechcraft King Air pilot to be specific. Now a Raytheon Beechcraft King Air technically, but I've gotta say Beechcraft aircraft are some of the best in the air. I'm very proud of the King Air. It's one of my favorite planes. Olive Ann is amazing and seems like she lived an exciting life. God bless her.
Thanks. I'm reminded of my 2nd cousin (RIP!). She ran insurance offices for many years, and had a pilot's license. She once told me that she'd much rather be in a plane than on a boat, especially if something went wrong. Her reasoning? She said that in a plane, "...at least I can breathe all the way down!" Strong woman (and quite funny, too). ℝ𝕚𝕜𝕜𝕚 🅣🅘🅚🅚🅘 𝓽𝓪𝓿𝓲.
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Forgot about God? Well that’s why I’m reminding you
Born and raised in Wichita in 1962, I have watched all the aircraft companies go through highs and lows over the years. I never heard one negative thing about Mrs. Beech. The one thing i will say about growing up here is you never lack for seeing or hearing an airplane. Wichita is home to Travelair, Stearman, Beech, Cessna, Learjet and Boeing. And I am sure there are others I missed. If you ever get to see a Staggerwing aircraft you won't forget it. They are beautiful sitting still or flying.
One thing you forgot to add to ther list, is the prebuilt restaurants that Breech built. There is one at Pioneer Village in Nebraska. They were aluminum rivited together and hauled by truck to the locations.
Thank you History Guy for all your great and hard work. God bless you brother...
Early aviation tales absolutely captivate me.
I was a 2nd generation employee of Beechcraft, but there after Mrs. Beech left. I have heard so many interesting and crazy stories about her and Walter Beech. The constant theme is she was kind and loyal to those who were loyal to her and ruthless to those who crossed her. She was referred to as Mama Beech by her employees, unless she was around, then it was Mrs. Beech. :)
See the Sept 2004 edition of " Air & Space Smithsonian " for the article " Beached Starship " that outlines the cutting edge and somewhat troubled Beech Starship aircraft. As a side note, there are a handful of the 53 planes still flying.
To quote " . . . ( in the early 1980's ) As tensions grew between Rutan and Beech, they also grew between Beech and Raytheon. Beech's genteel culture buckled under the abrupt ways of its new parent. Since 1950, Beech had been run by Walter Beech's much younger widow, Olive Ann. Mrs Beech would put yellow " happy face " stickers on the office doors of meritorious executives. Company picnics were courtly, civilized affairs."
It then goes on to say how Raytheons clamps tightened with Mrs Beech being pushed aside. Between 82 and 89 there were 3 presidents and 4 engineering VPs leaving the company in a constant state of flux.
Where Ya work at? Ima the Old Cranky Flight Painter
So glad to see that you chose her as the lead into what I can only hope is a series of episodes on the planes that she was so instrumental in creating. I was fortunate to first meet her as a teenager and then would see her on occasion in the years following. When you were in her presence you knew you were standing close to greatness.
I live in Wichita & I never knew all this. I did know the lady who ( if memory serves me correctly) was Mrs. Beach's private nurse in her last year's & I think I remember her telling me she was a lady of class, not as in a stuck up high class woman but a lady with class. Enjoyed the video.
I had the privilege of buying and restoring a 1942 Beechcraft Staggerwing D17S. My wife and I flew to Beech Field in Wichita for the Staggerwing convention in 1985 or so. We met Olive Ann and the twin brothers who were test pilots in the early days of Beechcraft. She was a magnificent role model for women who wanted to be successful in business. The Staggerwing is my favorite Beechcraft and I’ve owned almost every model of the Bonanza also. The 1985 model A36 was my second favorite.
"She was fortunate in her life in that she didn't have to do anything she didn't like."
That's very rare indeed.
Started out by marrying well, then seized the opportunity to rise to the level of her talents and intelligence. Remarkable for a woman in the early 20th century.
Weather or not you like a job is a personal choice , it has nothing to do with what the job is . Her statement reflects her attitude toward the work. Had she not had the proper attitude it wouldn't have made any difference who she married.
In Aviation their is an old saying.
The way you make $1000000 in aviation is start with 3 million and when you have 1 million left quit. This is a good example of how extremely difficult it is to succeed in the aviation field.
@@joesterling4299 She started out by working hard and earning everyone's respect. It was her husband who married well.
Never underestimate a woman as she's capable of anything.
Special Thanks and photo credit to the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Please support this extraordinary museum. sandiegoairandspace.org/historyguy
The replica Wright Flyer engine was built in the basement of the museum in the late 1990's.
Every Aviation enthusiast needs to go see San Diego Air and Space Museum, it was fascinating.
Just one word: Fantastic video! Okay, two words. She was an amazing woman, and she does deserve to be remembered. Thanks, History Guy :)
I grew up about 2 blocks away from Mrs. Beech's house. We used to trick-or-treat at her house!
My dad flew many Beechcraft models over the years flying hundreds of hours flying mail in Beech 18s. He also loved to fly a Special Beechcraft Baron fitted with Beech Duke engines. It was a very powerful and fast twin engine six place plane.
Thank you. I have to admit, I never knew about this aviation pioneer, and I knew many aviation pioneers at a young age. For many in my group, it was Jack and Jackie. For me, it was Chuck and Jackie. Possibly, it was because of the Bonanza, our local field being loaded with Piper Cubs and Cessna 150s. We also had a gliderport, right next to the drag strip. The Aviation museum in San Diego became a favorite to visit as a young man when i finally was on my own. I have yet to visit the Smithsonian, and my friends have told me that I would be so enthralled, it would take me at least two weeks to see it all. Until you post again, be well.
My husband and I were so excited to watch this one. Wichita State University Special Collections has a giant Walter and Olive Ann Beech collection. My husband used to work there and commented that he'd digitized several of the photos in the past from the video. Link to the collection here: specialcollections.wichita.edu/collections/ms/97-02/97-2-a.html
She was such a prolific lady in this area. Thank you for highlighting her incredible life!
It's taking me some time to discover your MANY videos! Some years ago, my sister was acquiainted with the guys working on restorations at the local Wichita CAF wing. When My dad's birthday came around, she arranged for him to get a ride in a C-45 'Beech Baby', now on static display at a local aluminum and industrial surplus company (The Yard). When we got there to see him off, the pilot said "Is this all there are?" and invited all 5 of us on the flight. We took several circles around town - a real thrill, in a very spartan plane.
Thank you for recognizing Mrs. Beech’s contributions to the field of aviation. I know people who worked at Beechcraft during her tenure who affectionately referred to her as “Mama Beech”. Another good video.
I worked for Beech Aerospace Services Inc aka BASI. We maintained the King Airs sold to all 5 branches of the military. Raytheon had already acquired Beech by the time I went to work for them. Some may have noticed that the company was called Beechcraft long after Raytheon acquired the company. There was an agreement that the Beechcraft companies would continue to bare the Beech name for as long as Mrs. Beech was still alive. On the BASI side of things we were all afford employment at the same pay, benefits and seniority that we had at BASI. One day we all came to work in a different uniform. I didn't clean out my desk or roll out my tool box. What was called Beech is now owed by Textron. Textron even continues to handle my Raytheon retirement benefits.
See the Sept 2004 edition of " Air & Space Smithsonian " for the article " Beached Starship " that outlines the cutting edge and somewhat troubled Beech Starship aircraft. As a side note, there are a handful of the 53 planes still flying.
To quote " . . . ( in the early 1980's ) As tensions grew between Rutan and Beech, they also grew between Beech and Raytheon. Beech's genteel culture buckled under the abrupt ways of its new parent. Since 1950, Beech had been run by Walter Beech's much younger widow, Olive Ann. Mrs Beech would put yellow " happy face " stickers on the office doors of meritorious executives. Company picnics were courtly, civilized affairs."
It then goes on to say how Raytheons clamps tightened with Mrs Beech being pushed aside. Between 82 and 89 there were 3 presidents and 4 engineering VPs leaving the company in a constant state of flux.
I had learned about her in bits and pieces from magazine articles that covered the various awards bestowed upon her in the 70s and 80s and her passing in the 90s. Very glad to see THG doing yet another excellent summary of the life work of someone who,,,,desrves to be remembered.
Whatever the state of chauvinism was in the 70s, 80s, & 90s, i dont recall anything other than respect and admiration for her leadership at Beachcraft.
My 3rd airplane was a used Bonanza that was built during her tenure. I owned that plane for 23 years because i never found any other aircraft that hit the same optimal balance of speed, useful load, and economy.
Outstanding episode and one close to my heart. The Travel Air company will remain the best example of what can go wrong with "Dream Teams." Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech, Lloyd Stearman were perhaps the most distinguished group in American aviation history Yet the three did not get along. Temperamentally they had more in common with the other great aviation pioneer at the time, Giuseppe Bellanca who remained a solo and singular genius. But as Bellanca's history proves, you need business brilliance as well, such as Olive Beech.
Watching from the air capital of the world! Wichita KS!
Ditto!
I was a crew chief of a VC-6A in the 1980s, the Army's VIP King Air.
Named our D95A Travel Air Olive Ann. Respect. I would have loved to enjoyed one of her Steak and Green Beans feeds at Beech Field. Have earned my living in King Air 200s for over 20 years. Thank you for this profile.
Born and raised in Wichita and I learn about this incredible lady from THG. Thank you!
What a great story, the beechs' were obviously a great team and Olive Ann was the glue that held the company together. I can't even fathom how difficult it must have been to manage a firm whose livelihood had so many ups and downs.
Thanks Lance. I love the shout out to George Field, Lawernceville, IL.
Agreed, learned to fly there with V.U. and always loved seeing all the memorabilia from those days there.
Extraordinary leadership produced the Cadillac of light airplanes. I've had the pleasure of flying several Beechcraft models from the Skipper to the King Air. All are well built, strong, and of the highest craftsmanship and quality. Olive Beech was an American legend who deserves to be remembered. Great job History Guy! (A suggestion for a future episode: the history of America's first president, Samuel Huntington).
Have been flying and into airplanes my whole life, from flying in military aircraft as a child to flying with bush pilots in Alaska and "puddle jumpers" in Central America. Beech aircraft can be found in every corner of the world.
But I never knew this back story. Amazing. Yet again, thank you for a fascinating glimpse of history.
Thanks History Guy. One of my flying jobs early in my career was flying freight in a D-18, mostly auto parts between Detroit and Kansas City. It helped that most Beech designs were well engineered and had good flying qualities. Never met Mrs. Beech but I've had plenty of trips through Wichita in my time. The Beech Museum in Tullahoma TN is very nice, lots of Staggerwing history and other Beech designs. In the summer take a drive to Creve Coeur. You'll find some old Beechcrafts there.
Thanks for this feature! First plane I ever flew was a Beechcraft. Went on to log time on Bonanzas, Travelairs, Barons and Twin Bonanzas. They’re some of the best handling planes out there. Olive Ann Beech and what she’s done for aviation truly deserve to be remembered.
I met Mrs. Beech many years ago when I was working for a musical theatre company here in Wichita. She was a genuinely nice person. She actually introduced herself to me and told me she really liked my design work. I still consider that the highest honor I have ever received and I was already a huge plane fan to start with.
I have lived a few blocks from Torrance Airport since I was a kid and there were a few stagger wing's based there among other great planes. They were a beautiful sight to see. I later on became a A & P because of living so close to a airport. Planes take off over my house everyday and I wouldn't change it for anything. Thanks for posting H.G.
Thanks for the shot of the San Diego Air & Space Museum at 14:24. I'm the surviving member of the restoration crew for the Convair Sea Dart, the fighter prototype on the left hardstand (my father was an engineer on the project when it was built. I was in high school at the time of the restoration).
And before someone screams "BLACKBIRD!" re the other plane...it's actually an A-12 Oxcart.
Thank you for this awesome look at a wonderful woman who was a pioneer of aviation truely History that deserves to be remembered
Kansas history is very interesting. At one time it was a required class in 8th grade in Kansas schools. When they dropped the requirement I felt they took away some of our identity.
They’re dropping all US history and rewriting it as we speak with the Project called 1619 .....lies
Agreed. I went to college in Kansas. There's so much history that is quietly being lost as our 'old folks" pass away. They lived Ad Astra per Aspera. Thank God for the History Guy. Cheers.🌻ps when in Hutch hit the Cosmosphere 🚀 and Hog Wild.🐖
As someone who has recently been through the US education system and _actually_ works in the field of historic interpretation... No. History is not being dropped anywhere. And it sure as heck isn't going anywhere either. And as for 1619 and all the fuss everyone threw up about it at the time you wrote your comment, I have not heard it referenced nor even mentioned once in my time working at a location where it'd be relevant.@@jjphank
@@loficampingguy9664 well, They are definitely not teaching all of American history, ; how young are you so how would you know? come on don’t shine yourself on! If you still believe that, then are you on George soros payroll?
I was fortunate enough to rack up many hours in a Beech-18 as a teenager (wish I knew I could have logged them!), as well as a V-tail Bonanza, and a surplus T-34 that I also helped to restore. Wonderful planes.
One of these days, I'll get my own Beech-18...
Spent a lot of my youth in the 'old' S.D. Aerospace museum and became a volunteer when they moved into the 'old' Ford Building and that is where I became a Fan of history!
I walk down a road called Expeditor every day. I didn’t know how to pronounce it until this episode. I’ve only known is as Beech 18, one of my favourites to see, especially when on floats. I started my career flying a 1969 King Air 100 and have operated the Beech 1900 as well. I have Walter and Olive Ann to thank for these machines. Hearing the story of her persistence gives me a lot more appreciation for these planes. Thanks for the constant insight offered in your videos. I love them and they have really help me get through this pandemic!!
Thanks for this video. I was a Beechcrafter in college, 78-82. Never saw Ma Beech, then again I was a nobody. But my longer term co workers spoke highly of her.
I don`t know if you are aware of it, But there is a Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, Tennessee. It has many Beechcraft aircraft including the model 2000 Starship, plus Barons, Dukes, King air and even a T-34. The Museum also has an Olive Ann Beech Gallery and Chapel. You can find out more by looking up the Museums website at ( beechcrafthm.org )
my grandfather had his father's V-tail 1947 bonanza. my mother wasn't interested, so it sat for a good few decades in a small, out of the way hangar in north Florida. over the last 3 years, myself and some Civil Air Patrol volunteers have been restoring it to airworthy status, and I got my pilot's license and was certified on the type last summer. I hope to fly my great-grandfather's favorite plane for the first time in 2023. it's no small thing to say that Mr. and Mrs. Beech made one brilliant aircraft, of many brilliant aircraft to bare the beech name.
The Beechcraft Stagger Wing is still one if the most heart breakingly beautiful airplanes ever designed.
A very interesting article about Olive Ann Beech. A life well lived and a story that most are not familiar with.
a very well loved and admired citizen of Wichita, and a source of great pride for the state of Kansas, she was a living part of Kansas History when i was a teenager, when women "just didn't do that sort of thing". this brought back very old memories. thank you for this vid!
I have a friend that inherited a 1949 A35. It still flies. It's big clunky handles, knobs and switches make flying it a real unique experience. No one is "exactly" sure how many hours are on the airframe or how many engine overhauls or replacements it has had. I still feel safe in it.
Beechcraft is all Ive done for the last 33 years. I painted all the Starships 2 to 53. Lots of Stories I could tell you. One Silly one Olive Ann and her Lady Friends where flying to D.C. with Walter. He Used the Honey Pot on the way. Which was a pot and a curtain in a Model 18. Olive was Sooo... embarrassed to her friends, as soon they returned to Wichita she had Engineers make the First Chemical Toilets!!! Ted Wells wanted to take over Beech after Walter died. He was Scheming with New York Bankers. He love Yachting. Olive Sent him a Note that Stated. Paraphasing her. " Mr. Wells I know you enjoy your boats, Im giving you more time to enjoy them" and Fired his Ass. She let him come back to see the last delivery of a Model Super 18 in 1970. Thanks ole History Guy. Tomorrow Ill go to work at 448 am at Beechcraft and at Breaktime watch the History Guy. Thank You
After a bad weekend... it's uplifting to see an video of the history Guy while eating breakfast..😎
Hope your week is off to a better start!
@@kaseymeier5944 it's been so far... thanks.
Hopefully your having a good day as well.
😁😊😎
@@kkattavega117 Glad to hear that! So far so good for the day. Lol
@@kaseymeier5944 😁😎
I watched this episode twice. Great story!
What a great story plot for a movie!
YOU MAKE IT EASY TO LEARN.
"The train was stopped by a plane, on the tracks!" Hilarious 😆 hilarious.
I think there is a touch of "whimsy" to this story.
Great video! This one hit close to home. I've worked on many Beechcraft from the Travelair biplane up to the Kingair and beechjet. Solid aircraft.
The Beech 18 was even adapted to floats and used in northern Canadian bush operations.
Wonderful story and really beautiful aircraft. Thank you History Guy!
Thanks for this. I grew up directly living across the street from Beech Aircraft in east Wichita.
As a Wichitan and the son of pilot. As a kid I could name every model of aircraft they made at 10,000 ft. overhead. As a bit of a history buff I knew all the stories and history of aviation in Wichita. Though never meeting Mrs. Beech I worked on her daughters home and got to spend hours reviewing all the memorabilia she had of her mother and father. You could literally form a museum with all the artifacts, relics and photographs. I ate it all up with a big giant spoon. No doubt about it, Olive Beech was a remarkable woman and business leader. By the way the daughter was in many way just like her mother. No nonsense, yet very kind and lived relatively modestly You wouldn’t know that all that Beech money was in her blood.
Great story, and a very impressive lady. A real role model for us all.
Excellent video! I actually live next to the Beechcraft factory and have met Olive Ann’s daughters several times. Keep up the fantastic video!
Thanks THG! As a pilot, if you haven't been touched by the many innovations the Beech company provided, you have missed aviation. Mrs. Beech, Thank You!
A remarkable woman, Love Beechcraft airplanes.❤️
How about doing an episode about The History Guy? I hear he's quite interesting!
www.dailyherald.com/article/20190609/news/306099999
That is a pretty good article. Well worth reading.
Good article. Congratulations on your success. Like countless others, I wish I had you for a history teacher. In some ways, this better; the class never ends. Thanks.
I would binge that episode SO HARD!
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel Great article- and it had PIRATES!
Olive Ann Beech’s legacy extends to airports as well. Her son-in-law, Tom Warner who was married to Suzanne and my father established the airport at Pauma Valley Country Club. There would be fly-Ins which included the Queen Air and early versions of the King Air. My father sported the Duke after a long ownership of an Aztec hunting hauler. Suzanne loved horses and was an accomplished dressage rider. Do not believe that I played golf with Tom as those games were generally among the family. Really liked this segment.
BTW, was Olive Ann Beech the first woman to break the “glass ceiling”?
I'm glad you do episodes of business history as well as war and discovery.
Last time I was in the San Diego Aviation museum was during my honeymoon in 1984. It sure has grown since then. Great story. I have flown in the Beech 18 many times. We had one, when I was working for UPS Air Lines in late 90's, we traded a larger plane for a yellow black striped Beech 18 used for skydiving. We nick named her the Bumble Beech. Just a FYI , most of them had a relief tube for the pilot so the pilot flying solo could pee while still flying.
The King Air is an awesome skydive jump plane, gets to altitude ***fast***. I've also jumped from 30,000 ft from a King Air, a model made in 1969. It had no problem flying that high and maintaining level flight reduced speed for the exiting skydivers.
Thanks!
One job I had briefly to work my way through college was at the El Paso, Tx. International Airport and it's Cessna - Beechcraft facility. I was very impressed with it and learned a lot.
Thanks for introducing me to my new role model! Luv to know, always!
Great episode !
A Beechcraft Bonanza was the first airplane in which I ever flew, back in 1981.
I worked at Beech for 45 years the best years was when Olive Ann ran the business you felt proud when you went to work after Raytheon took it over things were never the same I retired February of 2022 never so glad to get away from that but at least I had The Good Fortune to work for her from the seventies till she left
YES! Monday morning and both the History Guy and Dr. Felton have aviation-related offerings. Really making my Monday brighter!
Many thanks for a really well told history. Luscombe, another manufacturer of the Beech era, is going into production of a Light Sport Aircraft based upon it's Silvaire 2seat, cabin monoplane. Juan Brown recently did a report on his Blancolirio TH-cam channel.
WOW....A job very well done....Goes to her in a big way.....Thanks
I enjoyed as always. Thank you
Another great one H.G. In trying to reduce the company's dependence on government contracts Olive Ann Beech expressed what all good, innovative companies realize, government is always the customer of last resort.
In the late 60's I learned to fly in a 1957 g35 Bonanza, to this day it remains my favorite. BTW well done video !!
One person who deserves a closer look is Orrville Wright. Most telling of the Wright brothers end shortly before WWI, but his career lasted another 30 years and he continued to be a major force in aviation. Another person who is almost never mentioned is Katherine Wright, The sister who was a major contributor to the invention of the airplane.
Great presentation, very informative, and I learned a few things!! Thanks!! Always enjoy and look forward to the next story!!
Impressive Legacy, yes. THG thank you for making this knowledge available to us.
I love your story telling as I am reminded of a journalist on CBS, unfortunately he is no longer with us however, you deliver information so effortlessly as he did.
You need to produce a show for a t.v. Station like ABC, CBS, PBS, etc. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
that was great hg...love you so much...
Excellent video. Very well done.
I always learn ao much from your lessons! Thank you!
God bless the memory of this beautiful remarkable Woman..
I remember, way back in the early 1980s, my classmate and I took a field trip to the Beechcraft Aircraft Factory in my hometown.
That was AWESOME, Thank you for that informative segment!! LOVE ALL your posts!! Keep up the excellent work!!👍👍
I owned a 1952 model 35 bonanza I bought from my father. It's still the best built plane I ever flew.
Wow, what an incredible businesswoman and innovator
I have been lucky enough to get three hours in a Staggerwing and can say it is one of the most beautiful aircraft built, both in looks and handling. If I ever am able to own and maintain a Staggerwing, I will.
Hats off to you Mr. The History Guy. Another nugget of aviation history I was not aware of. And I though of myself as a aviation geek.
WOW, really good job, really. You and your team are spot on!!
Great vlog as always! I have never heard of her. What a gal!