Beechcraft Heritage Museum

Beechcraft Heritage Museum

By Sandy Holcomb, Western-Pacific Regional Director

We were honored to have Jody Curtis from the Beechcraft Heritage Museum speak to us at this year’s Professional Women Controller’s Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Geographically, North Carolina and Tennessee are neighboring states, but through learning about the Heritage Museum, located in Tennessee, it felt worlds away.

Beech Heritage Museum behind the iconic Staggerwing BE17

Jody took us back to the 1930s to get to know Walter Beech and his impressive wife, Olive Ann. Together in an idle Cessna factory with engineer Ted Wells, they started the Beech Aircraft Company in Kansas. Yes, Kansas, so why is the museum in Tennessee? Walter Beech was raised in Tennessee. Additionally, it was where a group of Staggerwing enthusiasts lived when the conception for the museum came about.

Olive Ann & Walter Beech

In 1932 the Staggerwing was an exciting and beautiful new flying machine. It was Olive that helped bring the Staggerwing to the public eye with the help of record-setting pilot, Louise Thaden.

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Aviatrix Louise Thaden

Olive Ann Beech

Starting as a formable secretary, Olive proved to be an incredible asset publicizing and fostering the business aspect of Beech Aircraft. She promoted Louise as a flying advertisement for the Staggerwing. The two created an unlikely, yet unstoppable pairing: Olive was fashionably prim and proper, while Louise was energetic and an adventurous pilot.

Olive Ann Beech and Louise Thaden

Louise was an aviatrix contemporary of Amelia Earhart. In fact, Louise beat Amelia at the Bendix Transcontinental Race of 1936 ( this also was the 1st year women were allowed to compete against men in the air race).

Louise went on to be awarded the Women's Harmon Trophy, an international award given to the outstanding female aviator of the year. She showed the world that women can fly as good if not better than their male counterparts. This was, and remains to be, an incredible achievement.

There is an abundance of aviation history at the Beechcraft Heritage Museum. The Museum is adjacent to the Tullahoma, Tennessee Municipal Airport (KTHA). The 60,000 square foot facility currently houses more than 35 aircraft in addition to many original historical artifacts and treasures. Their focus is on promoting aviation education and preserving the heritage of Beechcraft from 1932 through the present.

Beech Bonanza BE35

Next time you’re driving or flying through Tennessee, the Beechcraft Heritage Museum is a must stop.

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The WATCH - Fall 2022 | Pages 20-21