Mon, Jul 26, 2010
Extra Aircraft Selects Montrose, CO As New HQ
Colorado's Montrose Regional Airport (KMTJ) will be the home of
the new U.S. headquarters and production center for Extra Aircraft,
the company announced Friday.
Extra 500 Spirit File Photo
On July 23rd, Ken Keith, owner and CEO
of Extra Aircraft was joined by officials from Montrose County, the
Montrose Economic Development Corporation, The City of Montrose,
Montrose Regional Airport Director of Aviation, the State of
Colorado, executives from turbine engine manufacturer Rolls Royce
and Extra Aircraft customers for the ribbon cutting event.
"This is an incredibly exciting time for everyone involved with
Extra Aircraft," Keith said. "Creating a new purpose-built facility
here in the U.S. is key to providing our North American-based
customers with the overall ownership experience they expect when
they buy and operate an Extra aircraft."
"Today is a great day for Montrose!" said Sandy Head, Executive
Director, Montrose Economic Development Corporation." We are
thrilled to be chosen as the new North American home for Extra
Aircraft and we are pleased to extend a warm welcome to Ken Keith
and the entire Extra Aircraft family."
Keith said that construction of Extra's new 40,000 square foot
facility will begin soon and that Montrose Regional Airport will
provide temporary facilities for the Extra operations. Current
plans call for phase one of the Extra facility to be operational by
late this fall.
The Extra 500's advanced all-carbon-fiber fuselage and wing will
be crafted by the Extra factory in Dinslaken, Germany then shipped
to Montrose for final assembly and completion to each customer's
specifications. Extra's Montrose team will install the new Rolls
Royce M250-B17F turboprop engine and the new-generation Avidyne
Entegra Release 9 (R9) avionics suite into each aircraft. When
completed, the new facility will also feature a state-of-the-art
maintenance and spare parts facility. Keith said that when fully
operational, the Montrose facility will employ over 200 people.
Extra Aerobatic Airplane
"Extra Aircraft will provide new and exciting opportunities for
the citizens of Montrose," Ms. Head said. "Montrose Regional
Airport is one of the finest airports in Colorado and the Black
Canyon Jet Center is our new state-of-the-art FBO that will welcome
Extra owners as they fly into our city."
"Along with a truly wonderful airport, Montrose offers us 300-plus
days a year of crystal clear VFR weather and unmatched recreational
opportunities all year 'round," Keith said. "What better place to
experience your first flight in your new Extra 500 Sprit or Extra
200, 300 or 330 aerobatic airplane than over the spectacular Rocky
Mountains? We are so excited about our decision to come to Montrose
that we named the Extra 500 that we flew on our recent 15-city tour
of the U.S., 'The Spirit of Montrose,'" he said.
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