This is the story of Walter and Olive Ann Beech, the remarkable couple whose careers spanned virtually the entire history of American aviation. Together they founded Beech Aircraft Corp. in the teeth of the Great Depression and guided their company to fame and fortune. Their lives intersected with the giants of aviation: Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, and many others.

Aristocrats of the air -- The boy who wanted to fly -- Your life in your hands: aviation in the 1920's -- The girl who kept the books -- A marriage of opposites -- A pheasant in his teeth --War -- A death in the family -- A new hierarchy of power -- The bank with malice -- A disastrous interview -- Encounters with Lear -- "They'll have to carry me out" -- Eagle and raven: the end of an era -- A merger goes bad -- Final decade -- Two lives, lived in full -- Appendix A: Aviation trophies won by Walter H. Beech -- Appendix B: Awards and honors granted to Walter H. Beech -- Appendix C: Awards and honors granted to Olive Ann Beech -- Appendix D: List of persons interviewed by the author and/or submitting written recollections -- Beechcraft genealogy.