SUPERIOR, WIS. – Construction of the Kestrel Aircraft manufacturing plant at Richard I. Bong Airport in Superior, Wisconsin, has been delayed due to a delay in receiving financial incentives promised by the State of Wisconsin. Both the City of Superior and Douglas County have come through on their share of the $40 million package. The entire Kestrel project is expected to cost $190 million. Ground breaking on the plant is now expected in late 2013 or early 2014.
The financial package was key in bringing Kestrel CEO Alan Klapmeier back to Wisconsin to build the new plane, where he started Cirrus Aircraft with his brother, Dale, in 1984. Cirrus has since moved to Duluth, Minnesota, and is now owned by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The Kestrel K-350 is a single-engine, composite-constructed turboprop aircraft yet to be certified.