Beechcraft Corp. is moving full steam ahead with its product line of Bonanzas, Barons, and King Airs, and showed off its revamped manufacturing operation in Wichita, Kan., May 15 to AOPA President Craig Fuller and AOPA Vice President of Advertising Carol Dodds.
Throughout the year, Fuller and Dodds visit leading general aviation companies who support the work of AOPA through their advertising. The meeting was designed to brief AOPA on the strong commitment Beechcraft has to the production of propeller-driven aircraft.
“Seeing firsthand the people on the production lines where new Bonanzas, Barons, and King Air aircraft were rolling out was an impressive sight,” Fuller said. “Beechcraft stresses that what makes everything possible are the people who build these fine planes.”
Beechcraft released a video, addressing how it has changed—and grown stronger—since emerging from bankruptcy in February: “Nope, it hasn’t all been roses. Some even said this place was done for. But just as some say that true things like loyalty and responsibility and free enterprise have seen their day, casualties of the so-called ‘new normal’—hey, “new normal,’ allow us to re-introduce you to good old American ‘exceptional.’”
In addition to learning more about the new Beechcraft during the daylong meeting, Fuller briefed company executives on AOPA’s advocacy efforts, the threat of user fees, and the impact of sequestration on general aviation. He and Dodds also discussed the association’s upcoming AOPA Aviation Summit, set for October in Fort Worth, Texas; strategic initiatives such as the Center to Advance the Pilot Community; and AOPA’s media channels.
