Wichita still every bit the Air Capital

What was international newsfor most of the United States this week was also a local story for Wichita: the maiden transatlantic flight of the Airbus A380, whose 261-foot-long wing design involved the Airbus engineering facility in Old Town.
Of course, more Wichita workers are contributing to the rival Boeing 787 Dreamliner, whose forward section is being built at Spirit AeroSystems. Final assembly soon will begin in Washington state, toward the goal of a first flight in late August.
Wichita can and should take great pride in being part of this exciting next phase of passenger aircraft. Don’t let anybody say that Wichita’s best days as the Air Capital of the World are behind it.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

4 Comments

  1. Republican
    Posted March 21, 2007 at 5:36 am | Permalink

    From the story:”Airbus has been beset by management and financial problems, including a two-year delay to the A380 that wiped out more than $6.61 billion in forecast profits.”

    I’m guessing they’re hoping the drink and bagged peanut concession will make up for the profit loss.

    Not sure that the “Queen Mary” approach in designing aircraft is the way to approach design.

    The poor guy at the airport with the flashlights guiding the aircraft in is hoping he won’t be the first one being involved have a wing tip torn off because of the over sized plane’s wing span.

  2. Todd
    Posted March 21, 2007 at 11:54 am | Permalink

    Yeah, it’s the Air Capital that you have to jump through hoops and pay through the nose to fly into or out of.

    Brilliant!!

  3. JWink
    Posted March 21, 2007 at 12:13 pm | Permalink

    These giant jet planes might have another connection to the Sunflower State if they burn ethanol produced in Kansas.

    I wonder how many ears of corn it would take to fly from Coast to Coast?

  4. Kev
    Posted March 21, 2007 at 8:24 pm | Permalink

    Wichita has lots of skilled factory and aircraft workers and more and more companies recognize that. If you drive out by Lockheed here in Marietta GA you will see more than a few “SG” Kansas license plates.