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.

FMI: www.extraaircraft.com