Posted Jul 27, 2016, 2:59 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2005
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Quote:
Southern California's aerospace industry, long in decline, begins to stir
But analysts and industry leaders believe that the sector is poised to grow again, behind a new generation of entrepreneurial private space companies like SpaceX in Hawthorne and Virgin Galactic, and defense projects such as the B-21 long-range strike bomber, which could bring thousands of jobs to the area.
Southern California — with its ideal climate, open land and high-powered universities — has been a major player in the aerospace industry since the early 20th century.
The industry is now more diverse. Big programs include space launch-service providers and various satellite makers as well as drone manufacturers, such as Monrovia’s AeroVironment Inc.
The drone industry, in particular, is one of Southern California’s new strong points.
AeroVironment has emerged as the largest supplier of small, unmanned aircraft systems to the Pentagon, and spy drones such as Global Hawk and Triton are assembled by Northrop in Palmdale. Boeing’s unmanned undersea vehicles are made at its Phantom Works facility in Huntington Beach.
A more diverse customer base may help smooth the notorious employment downturns, which were usually driven by federal budget cuts or the end of big contracts. SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Los Angeles-based launch company Rocket Lab have all filled their satellite-launch manifests with both government and commercial contracts.
The industry also is geographically dispersed. Out in Mojave, Vulcan Aerospace is building Stratolaunch, a plane that will have the largest wingspan ever and is to launch satellites into orbit. Other companies like XCOR Aerospace Inc. and micro-satellite launch firm Vector Space Systems have established facilities in the desert city, where open land allows for rocket test firings.
Vector is based in Tucson but its engineering operations are in Huntington Beach, a decision made because of the deep knowledge of rocketry in the region, said Jim Cantrell, the company’s chief executive.
”There’s probably more rocket engine and launch vehicle expertise in Southern California than anywhere else in the United States or probably the world,” he said.
“L.A.’s got something different that nobody can compete with,” said Chad Anderson, managing director of Space Angels Network, an early-stage investor group in private space companies. “They’ve got a fantastic desert and an operational spaceport.”
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http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...nap-story.html
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