Airport ready to take off again
THERE WERE PLENTY OF
comings and goings at the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport in the last week or two.
But then again, plenty of comings and goings are the norm at the county airport.
The events over the last week or two featured plenty of vintage aircraft, serving as a precursor for the big Experimental Aircraft Association Air Venture show at Oshkosh. Visitors to the airport got to see some flying machines that usually aren’t seen in these parts, or haven’t been for a long, long time.
The latest official arrival at the airport — also involving a flying machine that hasn’t been seen in these parts before but should be a lot in the not too-distant future — is the one that should generate the most excitement and benefit for Sheboygan County.
Monday, the county officially signed a 50-year lease with Morgan Aircraft for what is expected to be a major manufacturing facility at the airport.
The startup company, now based in Oostburg, has developed a seven-passenger extremely maneuverable jet (EMJ) airplane, capable of vertical take-offs and lands and of cruising at speeds of up to 425 mph.
Morgan Aircraft is ready to start full production of their EMJ, and they’ve chosen a site on the north end of the airport property to build them. The company expects to employ as many as 2,000 people at the plant once it is up and running at full speed, which officials expect could happen as soon as five years from now.
The land Morgan is leasing at the airport has plenty of room for the company to expand its facility, should sales of their EMJ really take off — and yes, the pun is intended.
It’s just one more sign of how vital to Sheboygan County’s economy the airport — the 10th busiest in the state in terms of takeoffs and landings, according to state Department of Transportation figures — really is. It provides connectivity for many of Sheboygan County’s industries and businesses as well as providing a portal for those coming here for tourism, recreation and major events.
The Sheboygan County Memorial Airport has plenty to offer not just flyers but those interested in seeing a busy airport in action, learning about the history and heritage of aviation, or just enjoying a good meal while watching the daily activity at the airport.
And now, the next chapter in the airport’s growth — and the county’s — is ready to take off.
