Superior Airplane-maker Gets a Kickstart

A major piece of a package that would finance two airplane manufacturing plants in Superior has been announced.The federal money could kick-start a next-generation airplane manufacturer that will eventually create 600 jobs.

When Kestrel Aircraft officials announced last January they’d build their headquarters and manufacturing plants in Superior, they had hoped to begin construction on the facility last spring.CEO Alan Klapmeier says that was a little optimistic.But they do have 53 engineers and their headquarters operating, and hope to begin building their manufacturing facility this fall.

He’s optimistic again because the federal New Markets Tax Credit program will give Kestrel $30 million in tax refunds and private investment as part of a $118 million public financing package.

Klapmeier says they’re not waiting for economic recovery to get going. “We think we are part of the economic recovery as opposed to dependent on the economic recovery,” he says.”Once the plane is in full production and as we grow production, 600 people working in Superior all improves the local economy, which then as the economy improves means that people buy homes and cars and send their kids off to college.”

But there are other several other pieces to this puzzle.They have to finish designing the plane. “We’re really happy with the design of the airplane,” he says.”Happy probably is an understatement.We’re really excited about this airplane.”

The Kestrel K-350 would carry six-to-eight people over a long range, about 1500 miles.It’s speed would be 375 miles per hour.Klapmeier says the K-350 would have the lowest “seats per gallon” cost of any aircraft in its class.He hopes to start building the plane in three years.