General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

I hadn't heard about this

KFDI - Holocaust Memorial planned for Wichita

Plans are moving ahead for a Holocaust Memorial in Wichita. A citizens group has been working to raise funds for the memorial that will be placed near the Veterans Memorial Park west of downtown Wichita.

The project has been approved by the city’s Park Board and the City Council has approved an agreement for maintenance of the memorial.

Architect Matthew Cunningham designed the memorial and presented information to the City Council on its design. The memorial will educate visitors about World War II, the Holocaust and the Kansas soldiers who helped to liberate the concentration camps. Cunningham said General Dwight D. Eisenhower will be recognized in the memorial. He said there will be six plaques in the memorial, including a dedication plaque. Lighting will also be provided for the memorial.

[SubGod22]

Some positive Boeing/Spirit news for a change.

WBJ - Big week for Boeing defense contracts should mean more work for Spirit AeroSystems

Boeing's struggling defense and space segment has snagged more than $4 billion in contract modifications on a pair of programs involving significant contributions from Wichita's Spirit AeroSystems.

Last week, Boeing announced it received a $2.4 billion award to build 15 additional KC-46A Pegasus tankers for the U.S. Air Force. The same day, the Department of Defense said the aerospace giant had received a $1.7 billion award from the U.S. Navy for seven P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft.

Spirit, Boeing's largest supplier, builds the forward fuselage, fixed leading edge and strut and nacelle components on the KC-46A. Meanwhile, the P-8A Poseidon is a variant of the Boeing 737, of which Spirit builds 70% of the structure, including the aircraft’s full fuselage.

Boeing said it now has 168 KC-46A tankers under contract. Since 2019, the company has delivered 89 of the aircraft to the U.S. Air Force and four to Japan.

"We appreciate our continued partnership with the U.S. Air Force," said Lynn Fox, Boeing vice president and KC-46 program manager, in a news release. "This is another big milestone for our team, and we look forward to delivering the world’s most advanced multi-mission aerial refuelers for years to come."

These contracts aren't set to conclude until summer/fall of '28.

[SubGod22]

Always like to see Wichita companies growing and expanding.

WBJ - Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics names new president, other execs

A growing Wichita aviation subcontractor has announced a new president and a slate of other leadership changes that the company says will position it to expand global market share and support increased customer demand.

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics announced Monday it has promoted Matthew Harrah, who was hired in 2020 as senior vice president of technology and products, to the role of president at both Mid-Continent and its True Blue Power division.

Todd Winter — who had been serving since 2000 as both president and chief executive officer of Mid-Continent and held the same titles at True Blue Power after it was formed in 2010 — will remain CEO.

“We are making the right moves at the right time to support our customers,” Winter said in a news release. “The high demand for our products penetrates all sectors of aerospace and aviation... Our unrivaled dedication to meeting the challenge of technology can only be realized by a superior leadership team.”

Mid-Continent, which employs about 180 people in Wichita, manufactures and repairs instruments for the aerospace industry.

Sounds like they have a pretty good presence in the international market and are currently expanding their presence at Jabara.