Kestrel Aircraft to be Built In Superior, Wisconsin

[Mike Hongisto]

In a meeting at the Superior Wisconsin Airport (KSUW) this morning, which included the Governor of Wisconsin, the Mayor or Superior, Alan Klapmeier and other government officials, an announcement was made the Kestrel Aircraft has chosen the City of Superior to be the location of its new manufacturing facility. Governor Scott Walker said the estimated 600 jobs that will be created at Kestrel will represent the largest influx of new jobs into Wisconsin since World War II.

The decision to locate the facility at the Superior airport came after just six months of negotiations between Kestrel, the City of Superior, Douglas County and the State of Wisconsin. The officials at today’s announcement stated this is as fast as they have seen government work to get the necessary incentives in place. Previously, the State of Maine was the presumed location of Kestrel aircraft but the various governmental bodies in Wisconsin worked, according to Alan, with “unbelievable perseverance”. This hard work resulted in the world’s newest aircraft manufacturer to locate it’s soon-to-be-built facilities in our community.

To see see clips of, including the full video of this morning’s announcement ceremony, please visit our website at http://1221.eaachapter.org (http://1221.eaachapter.org) We hope to have these available for viewing soon.


Mike Hongisto
President - EAA Chapter 1221
Cloquet, MN
hongistomichael@aol.com

[Floatsflyer]

Seems like a highly strategic no brainer decision on the part of Klapmeier and the astute politicos of the town and state. Maine never stood a chance.

Afterall, Superior is literally across the street from Diluth, the home of Cirrus. Klapmeier can stick it to his former company and those that ousted him and leverage the availability of a highly skilled aircraft manufacturing labour force. He can take all those disgruntled skilled aircraft workers still left at the Cirrus plant as well as those many, many that have been layed off over the past 2-3 years.

[Joe Delene]

Hopefully the plant will have staying power, & be around for years to come.