Viewing page 15 of 31

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

to a standstill. The Curtiss Flying Service was bankrupt and the Cessna Company [[strikethrough]] found itself with a[[/strikethrough]] with its new factory, [[strikethrough]] tremendously [[/strikethrough]] was greatly in debt [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] with no sales department.

Cessna [[strikethrough]] personally [[/strikethrough]] refused to give up and continued to sell a few planes occasionally. The glider movement showed some signs of life, so he brought out a simple, well built primary type selling for $398.00 In 1930 over 300 of these were sold. At the same time Cessna [[strikethrough]] brought-out [[/strikethrough]] developed a 2-seat, side-by-side high-wing light sport monoplane, powered by an Aeronca, 2 cylinder, 30 H.P. engine, but it was never put into production.

[[margin]] Legend says 300+, but we can only prove 84! [[/margin]]

The company continued through 1930, selling a few planes and [[strikethrough]] their [[/strikethrough]] gliders, but by January, 1931 they were in real financial difficulties and the Board of Directors met to [[strikethrough]] make decisions regarding [[/strikethrough]] decide about the future of the company. Cessna pleaded not to close the plant, but a new Board was elected and he was out of the firm. Heart broken, he turned in his keys and left, but he was not through.

With his son Eldon, a shop was established in Wichita, called the C. V. Cessna Aircraft Company, and there during 1931-1933 they built special race planes [[strikethrough]] for [[/strikethrough]]to the order of nationally known pilots for competition flying. The original Cessna Aircraft Company had never formally gone into bankruptcy, but rented the buildings to keep the company solvent until they might be able to resume plane production. 

In 1933 Cessna's nephew, Dwane Wallace, a young graduate aeronautical engineer, approached him about reopening the plant to resume building planes. Cessna told him "You get me back in as President and we will do it". After much manipulation Wallace succeeded in bringing about a new election of officers and on January 10th, 1934 Cessna was re-elected President. Roscoe Vaughn was Vice-President, Dwight Wallace Secretary and Treasurer, and Dwane Wallace was Plant Manager.
 
New planes were designed and revisions made some of their former [[strikethrough]] machines [[/strikethrough]] types but business was slow and it was a tough, hard struggle through the next two or three years. [[strikethrough]]and i[[/strikethrough]]In late 1935 Cessna longed to retire and return to his farm at Rago, Kansas. In December he sold his stock to the Directors, but retained the Presidency until October, 1936 when he resigned. 

In retirement Cessna acquired a large tract of land adjoining his former

6