By, Nancy Ramberg, Editor-Developing Kansas
Kansas Department of Commerce
 The flight deck and forward fuselage sections for the new super-efficient 7E7 airplane will be manufactured at the Boeing Wichita Facility |
Kansas has a rich history in the aviation industry. Test your own knowledge with the following facts.
- More than a quarter million aircraft have been manufactured in Kansas since 1919.
- Together, Cessna, Raytheon, and Bombardier-Learjet delivered nearly 50 percent of all U.S. general aviation aircraft shipped in 2002, generating sales of over $3.7 billion during the same period.
- The total employment base at Boeing, Cessna, Raytheon, and Bombardier-Learjet is nearly 32,000 workers. One of every nine Wichita workers is employed in the aerospace industry.
- The four major aircraft companies account for approximately 54 percent of Wichita’s manufacturing jobs and 18 percent of Kansas’ manufacturing employment.
- Airbus UK recently established a presence in Wichita, setting up a new wing design and engineering facility.
- In addition to Wichita, there are a number of aerospace-related operations in other parts of the state. For example, over 1,000 people are employed by Honeywell at its avionics plant in Olathe.
- Wichita State University is home to the National Institute for Aviation Research, a major research site that includes crash test laboratories, as well as wind and water tunnels for aerodynamic testing.
- Kansas State University’s College of Technology and Aviation offers both associate and bachelor’s degrees in aviation maintenance and professional pilot, and an associate degree in avionics.
- The University of Kansas offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in Aerospace Engineering. In addition, the University of Kansas Flight Research Laboratory (KU-FRL) conducts basic and applied research in aerospace vehicles, ranging from spacecraft and supersonic jets to transport aircraft.
- The Kansas Aircraft Design and Manufacturing Research Center is a part of the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University. This organization is a consortium of aerospace companies in Kansas, both larger and small, research professors at four state universities (Wichita State University, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Pittsburg State), and State government.