Extra Aircraft Sets Up Shop in Colorado

German aircraft manufacturer Extra Aircraft has chosen Montrose, Colorado, as the site of its U.S. headquarters and "aircraft production center." Construction of a new 40,000-square-foot facility is expected to start soon with completion scheduled for late fall this year.

The company plans to assemble the all-carbon-fiber Extra 500 'Spirit' in Montrose. Fuselages and wings will be built in the Extra factory in Dinslaken, Germany, and shipped to Montrose for assembly and completion. The Spirit is a high-wing, single-engine turboprop powered by a Rolls Royce RR250-B17F/2 engine, with Avidyne Entegra Release 9 avionics. Founded by Walter Extra in 1981, the company is best known for its Extra 200, 300 and 330 series of aerobatic aircraft. For more info, go to www.ExtraAircraft.com.

Mark Phelps is a senior editor at AVweb. He is an instrument rated private pilot and former owner of a Grumman American AA1B and a V-tail Bonanza.

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