After devoting almost 50 years of his career to aviation, Max Bleck died on September 2 at the age of 91. He served in various executive roles at business aircraft manufacturers, including Beech Aircraft, Gates Learjet, Cessna, Piper, and Raytheon Aircraft. Additionally, Bleck was once chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

Bleck began his industry career at Cessna, where he worked initially as a chief engineer before eventually becoming group vice president of aircraft operations. After leaving Cessna, he became president of Piper Aircraft, and then executive vice president and CEO of Gates Learjet.

Bleck then joined Beech as vice president and assistant to the president and manager of engineering and then left to go back to Cessna as president and CEO. After one year in that role at Cessna, he returned to Beech as the company’s president and CEO. Bleck then left Beech to begin a role as president of Raytheon Aircraft for four years before he retired from the company in 1995.

“I worked with Max early in my career at Cessna and enjoyed crossing paths with him often at GAMA meetings and NBAA conventions for more than two decades,” said long-time business aviation communications professional David Franson. “He was a consummate executive who deservedly earned the distinction of being a Wichita legend. He was the only person to hold the title of president at general aviation’s Big Three: Cessna, Beech, and Piper. While Piper wasn’t in the Air Capital, Max completed the Wichita trifecta with a stint as the head of Learjet, too. He truly was a great officer everywhere he served.”