Page 25 - Volume 12 Number 6

action was taken during the meeting, it was obvious to everyone present that tensions were beginning to rise between Roos and his colleagues.6
At the next meeting the controversy resurfaced and this time, sparks flew. Roos vehemently objected to any alteration of the company’s name, claiming it would be detrimental to the business at a time when production was about to begin. In addition, he claimed the change was a clear injustice to him personally. Adding insult to injury, the board of directors also refused to meet Roos’ demand for compensation, and he resigned on the spot. The disgruntled motorcycle salesman was soon employed to manage the Swallow Aircraft Company across town.
With Victor Roos out of the picture at last, the Charter Board of the State of Kansas approved “The Cessna Aircraft Company” corporate name. As Christmas approached, 20 employees were building six airplanes in the new factory in addition to four that had been completed since the company started operations five months earlier.7
The year 1927 had been a hectic, stressful, but productive 12 months for Clyde Cessna and the company that bore his name. He had succeeded in attaining government approval to sell his full-cantilever
wing monoplanes powered by various radial engines, built a new factory, was in the process of forging a nationwide sales and marketing team, and had signed up dealers and distributors coast-to-coast to promote and sell his airplanes.
Of the 284 aircraft granted an Approved Type Certificate (ATC) by the DOC during 1927, Cessna was awarded two; one for the Model AA (ATC 65) and the other for the Model AW (ATC 72). Limited production versions, such as the Model AC (Comet engine), Model AF (Floco/Axelson engine) and Model AS (Siemens-Halske engine) were approved under the DOC’s Group Two process. Group Two approvals allowed airframe manufacturers such as Cessna to offer one airframe that could be powered by different radial engines without having to seek an ATC for each configuration.
The year 1928 would witness rapid growth for the Cessna Aircraft Company as it gained a solid reputation for building fast and efficient monoplanes. Cessna’s airplanes would find their way onto the front pages of national newspapers, bask in the winner’s circle at air races and increase Wichita’s fame from coast-to-coast. Clyde would make his mark on aviation and testify to the world that “Monoplanes are the only worthwhile type of aircraft.” KA
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JUNE 2018 KING AIR MAGAZINE • 23