New Mexico’s license plates proclaim it to be the “Land of Enchantment.” And a growing number of business aircraft manufacturers are enchanted with New Mexico’s efforts toward becoming an “aviation cluster” of airframe manufacturers and supporting businesses.
From Albuquerque north to San Juan Pueblo near Los Alamos National Labs, state and local leaders have been extending enticements used by others elsewhere, in addition to a couple they’ve invented themselves. So far, Eclipse Aviation has already set up shop in Albuquerque, and Aviation Technology Group, developer of the Javelin jet trainer, has announced plans to manufacture its airplane there as well. American Utilicraft of Lawrenceville, Ga., this year made a commitment to establish an assembly facility in northern New Mexico, and Adam Aircraft has reportedly expressed interest in moving from Colorado to New Mexico to build its A700 very light twinjet.
