NTX Magazine Volume 1 | Page 21

a wide range of aircraft for military and commercial applications. Bell Helicopter also manages a robust research and development operation to enable future aerospace breakthroughs. Another aviation business with deep Texas roots is Lockheed Martin, the largest defense company in the state. More than 15,000 employees are located within the Lockheed headquarters and Aeronautics unit based in Fort Worth. Another operating unit, called Missiles and Fire Control, has approximately 2,700 employees out of nearby Grand Prairie. “Our company and the Texas aviationdefense industry have evolved along with the advancement of aerospace technology,” said Joe Stout, director of communications for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “The favorable business conditions in North Texas have helped us to be successful, which in turn has allowed us to invest in the necessary technologies and capabilities to drive those transitions.” Lockheed’s Fort Worth plant began producing bombers akin to large boxcars in World War II, progressed into the “Jet Age” beginning in the 1950s, and now into the current generation of advanced stealth fighters. The company has grown into a leader in the design, R&D, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. “[Lockheed] has grown significantly since 2001, when we were awarded the development contract for the F-35 Lightning II fighter,” Stout went on to say. “The F-35 is a true economic engine in Texas, with 91 supplier companies and a total economic impact of $3.8 billion, including $1.8 billion of direct and $2 billion of indirect economic benefits.” Projections indicate those figures could more than double in the next five years if a production plan outlined in early 2011 remains on track. Aviation has been an important activity www.ntc-dfw.org WATCH YOUR BUSINESS TAKE OFF. LAND IN COPPELL. Companies that require proximity to a major airport—and connections across the world—know a smart location when they see one. Ideally situated, Coppell is just 10 minutes from DFW International Airport, one of the busiest commercial hubs in the nation. Overland, we are accessible to many major thoroughfares and within 30 minutes of downtown Dallas and Fort Worth. What’s more, it is just a short drive to many professional sports venues and some of the area’s largest shopping destinations. Right in our own inviting backyard are tree-lined parks, blueribbon schools and affluent neighborhoods. Soar along with The Container Store, Brink’s U.S., CiCi’s Pizza, all headquartered here, and other successful companies including Staples, IBM and Kimberly-Clark. Find out how landing in Coppell can benefit your company; visit coppelltx.gov/landincoppell. A Family Community For a Lifetime City of Coppell · P.O. Box 9478, Coppell, Texas 75019-9478 · 1-888-267-5939 North Texas Magazine 19