In a vast concrete hangar at Wichita's Municipal Airport last week gathered city officials, businessmen and workers to pay homage to "the Henry Ford of the light aircraft industry." His name: Dwane L. (for Leon) Wallace, 47, president of Wichita's Cessna Aircraft Co. A skillful management pilot with a frame (6 ft. 2½ in., 160 Ibs.) as spare as a wing spar and a face as weatherbeaten as a crop-duster's, Dwane Wallace was celebrating his 25th year with Cessna. There was a great deal to celebrate.
This year, for the first time, Cessna is forging ahead of rival Beech Aircraft ("across...