GE Aerospace and Newcomers Drive Southwest Ohio Aviation
Southwest Ohio's aviation industry, anchored by GE Aerospace, is expanding with new investments from companies like Beehive Industries and Electra
Southwest Ohio's aviation industry continues to be a major economic force, supporting nearly 19,000 aerospace jobs. According to the regional economic development organization REDI Cincinnati, the area has over 185 aerospace manufacturers, with aircraft engine and parts manufacturing significantly more concentrated there than nationally.
GE Aerospace, one of the world's largest aircraft engine makers, employs more than 10,000 people in the region. The company's chairman and CEO, H. Lawrence Culp Jr., stated, "When you're home, you're home." The company's Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky workforce is its largest concentration of employees anywhere in the world.
A Century of Aviation History
The region's aviation roots run deep. Cincinnati's Lunken Field was the world's largest municipal airport in 1925, and Charles Lindbergh landed there two years later. Wright Aeronautical opened a factory in Evendale in 1941 to build radial engines for World War II aircraft, with Orville Wright attending its grand opening. GE later took over the site and began producing jet engines there in 1949, manufacturing about 35,000 J47 engines.
Nick Hurm, a GE Aerospace customer communications representative, attributes the area's success to its technical know-how. "Cincinnati has a rich aviation history because of its technical know-how." Hurm says. GE Aerospace called Cincinnati "Jet Center USA" in the 1950s, a label Hurm says is still appropriate today.
New Investments and Job Creation
A new generation of aerospace companies is now investing in the region's established industrial base. The following table details recent major investments.
| Company | Investment | Jobs Created | Location | Product Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beehive Industries | $70 million | More than 200 | Southwest Ohio | Advanced 3D-printed jet engines |
| Electra | $850 million | 1,975 | Springfield | Hybrid-electric aircraft |
Electra selected Springfield after considering over 140 locations. Its factory will build hybrid-electric aircraft capable of taking off and landing in just 150 feet. CEO Marc Allen told Axios that the region brings together everything the company needs, including exceptional defense and aerospace talent, advanced testing infrastructure, world-class research institutions, and an industrial base built for aircraft production. Proximity to regional universities and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was also a key attraction.
Infrastructure and Future Outlook
The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) is the nation's sixth-largest cargo hub, providing critical logistics support for the industry. The aerospace footprint is also stretching north toward Dayton and Springfield, where companies are working on the next iteration of flight. This expanding ecosystem not only attracts new players but helps anchor long-standing ones like GE Aerospace. The company recently brought its Boeing 747 Flying Test Bed aircraft to CVG to test its newest engines, a visible symbol of the ongoing activity.
