The Beech Aircraft Corporation, purchased by Raytheon Aircraft on February 8, 1980, and often known as Beechcraft, is a manufacturer of general aviation and military aircraft, ranging from light single engine aircraft to business jets and light military transports. It was founded in 1932 by Walter H. and Olive Ann Beech.
After the war the Staggerwing was replaced by the Bonanza. Perhaps the best-known Beech plane, the single-engine Bonanza has been manufactured for more than 50 years.
Bonanza, one of most recognizable personal aircraft of all time, culminating with the Model 2000 Starship, a vision of the future, the BeechAircraft name is synonymous with well-designed and durable aircraft.
Beech's $350-million development effort resulted in a high-performance, stall-free aircraft that accommodated eight passengers (plus two pilots), designed to be competitive in speed with small business jets.
BeechAircraft ceased to exist as an independent entity when it accepted a takeover bid from RaytheonCorporation on October 1, 1979.
Beech apparently was aware that the structural margin on the tail was inadequate, because the purpose of the modifications was to increase the strength of the tail.
Beech offered to retrofit, free of charge, the very early models with a strengthened wing, but this proved to be almost as expensive to Beech as producing a new airplane, and the company stopped actively encouraging owners to receive the retrofit.
Aircraft control response with the V-tail is equivalent to that of a conventional tail of 40 percent greater surface area.
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