Kvassay, Sandor, 1926-
Person
Dates
- Existence: 1926 -
Biographical Information
Sandor "Alex" Kvassay came to the United States from Hungary in 1948, where he had finished studying law. He became a United States citizen through two years of service in the Army. He then went to Wichita for a job at Beech Aircraft before Lear Jet Corporation recruited him as vice president of international marketing. Alex Kvassay sold Beech and Learjet aircraft for 30 years, earning a reputation as the industry's premier international salesman of his day. Kvassay sold planes for Olive Ann Beech and Bill Lear to world leaders, business moguls and celebrities. He later became a partner with Duncan Aviation.
During his 30 years of selling corporate aircraft around the world, Alex Kvassay crossed the Atlantic Ocean nearly 500 times and the Pacific more than 80 times.
He retired in 1982 and continued to travel the world, including landing on the North and South poles. In early 2010, Murray Smith, owner/publisher/editor of Professional Pilot magazine, an old friend of Alex Kvassay asked Alex to write down his memories of more than 30 years of selling business aircraft internationally, so his collection of reflections could be enjoyed by Pro Pilot readers and his history of marketing private aircraft outside the United States could be preserved.
Since May 2010 he has authored more than 35 individual stories, which have run monthly in Professional Pilot, under the title of "Alex Remembers." Some of those stories appear in this collection. Kvassay had a 40 year friendship with Neil Armstrong. E-mails they had exchanged in the 2000s and clippings Kvassay had collected in regards to Armstrong's life are also found in this collection.
During his 30 years of selling corporate aircraft around the world, Alex Kvassay crossed the Atlantic Ocean nearly 500 times and the Pacific more than 80 times.
He retired in 1982 and continued to travel the world, including landing on the North and South poles. In early 2010, Murray Smith, owner/publisher/editor of Professional Pilot magazine, an old friend of Alex Kvassay asked Alex to write down his memories of more than 30 years of selling business aircraft internationally, so his collection of reflections could be enjoyed by Pro Pilot readers and his history of marketing private aircraft outside the United States could be preserved.
Since May 2010 he has authored more than 35 individual stories, which have run monthly in Professional Pilot, under the title of "Alex Remembers." Some of those stories appear in this collection. Kvassay had a 40 year friendship with Neil Armstrong. E-mails they had exchanged in the 2000s and clippings Kvassay had collected in regards to Armstrong's life are also found in this collection.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Sandor "Alex" Kvassay papers and collection of Aviation Stamps
Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 144
Scope and Contents
The Sandor "Alex" Kvassay papers and collection of Aviation Stamps document the history of aviation and flight through postage stamps, postmarks and envelopes collected from all over the world. The collection spans the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century but includes examples of 19th century balloon airmail. The stamps are housed in 67 albums and total near 68,000 stamps, envelopes, postmarks and postcards. The collection was assembled over a period of 20 years, with...
Dates:
1870 - 2014; Other: Majority of material found within 1920 - 1990