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