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building the brands and influencing the Wichita com- munity as well as the aviation industry.
Clyde Cessna formed his company in 1927, then his nephew Dwane Wallace led it for 40 years, followed by Russ Meyer. Walter and Olive Ann Beech started Beechcraft in 1932, and Olive Ann stepped into the role of president when Walter died in 1950, followed by her nephew Frank Hedrick becoming president in 1968. The companies merged in 2014 to form Textron Aviation, a subsidiary of industrial conglomerate Textron Inc.
“It’s humbling to stand on the shoulders of those types of giants, and I feel it’s my duty to continue to build on their success,” Draper said. “How do we take care of our employees? How do we ensure that we have the right products, the right service, the right processes so that this company that’s been here for 95 years will be here for another 95 years? My role is to keep that going and advance it.”
That history inspires him, he said, and also adds pressure to the job.
“But it serves as good pressure to me, because I respect where we came from, I respect that I do stand on the shoulders of giants. And that pressure is: I’ve got to do the right thing, long term, for this company, its employees, our brand reputation and our products. So how do we improve our facilities? How do we make the best airplanes in the world? How do we have the best customer service in the world? That’s what I wake up every day thinking about.”
Then there are the external factors that affect the company and its customers, and require his attention. Pressed to name a few, he said regulations influencing the industry, the FAA’s ability to keep pace with modernization and support certification of airplanes, climate change and the pressure on aviation as well as the rising costs of insurance for aircraft owners.
NOVEMBER 2023
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 15