Efforts Hit $2.3 B+ as Partnership Showcases Space for First Time at Farnborough Air Show

WICHITA, Kan., July 20, 2026 – The Greater Wichita Partnership will represent and promote the Wichita region – the Air Capital of the World – at the 2026 Farnborough International Air Show. This show is one of the world’s most influential aerospace and defense events, bringing together more than 100,000 people from 114 countries and more than 1,400 exhibitors and industry leaders from across the globe.

For the first time, the Partnership joined the Space Zone as a nod to the diligent efforts to diversify into space and defense. More than 145 Kansas suppliers contributed to Artemis II and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman was in Wichita during the historic moment astronauts aboard Artemis II reached the moon’s gravitational pull, becoming the first humans to travel farther from earth than any crew before them. The Air Capital’s presence at the air show reflects this very momentum in a big way this year.

With a robust delegation of education leaders, business representatives, and elected officials, the Partnership will leverage this global stage to attract new business investment and strengthen the region’s existing aerospace industry as well as the emerging opportunities in the space industry.

Wichita is recognized as the No. 1 U.S. manufacturing metro and the most manufacturing-specialized region in the nation. The region has a rich aviation history and is home to major aerospace companies, including Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, and Textron Aviation, alongside a 350+ regional and 450+ statewide supplier network. This network is actively demonstrating how this expertise can benefit space exploration and National Defense.

Wichita State University (WSU) further cements the region’s global leadership, ranking as the No. 1 college in industry-funded aerospace research by the National Science Foundation and houses the renowned National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT).

“The Farnborough Air Show is an essential platform for positioning Wichita’s aerospace ecosystem on the world stage,” said Partnership President Jeff Fluhr. “Our goal is always to showcase the region’s unmatched expertise, innovation and business advantages to companies seeking new opportunities for investment and collaboration. We are pleased to be in the Space Zone for the first time as well, demonstrating our commitment to diversifying into the future of commercial and government space programs.”

A Strong Presence on the Global Stage

The Partnership’s presence at the 2026 Farnborough Air Show will include:

Exhibit Kiosk Partners: Aerospace Systems & Components (ASC), Classic Learjet, Cox Machine, Envisage Group, Etezazi Industries, Globe Engineering, Harlow Aerostructures, Metal Finishing Company and Spirit Defense.
Chalet Partners: Mid-State Aerospace, Inc., NWI Aerostructures, SNC, Spirit Defense and Wichita State University.
Delegation: U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, s Lt. Gov. David Toland, Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, Sedgwick County Commissioner Jeff Blubaugh, industry leaders, business leaders and higher education representatives.

Proven Success in Business Development

Over the past five years, the Partnership’s participation in global trade shows has resulted in multiple new business prospect projects, hundreds of new jobs and more than $2.3 BILLION in supply chain investment in the Wichita region with an additional $1 BILLION in Boeing investment in Wichita.

Announcements

Incredible announcements were made today that benefit the entire Wichita region. Those included:

JetZero Opens Wichita Engineering Office
JetZero announced it will establish a new engineering office on Wichita State University's Innovation Campus, bringing approximately 30 engineering jobs to the region. The expansion reflects Wichita's nationally recognized aerospace engineering talent and research capabilities, further strengthening the city's role in advancing next-generation aircraft development.

Envisage Group Acquires Precision Products Company
Envisage Group announced the acquisition of Wichita-based Precision Products Company, creating Envisage Manufacturing Incorporated (EMI) and expanding the company's presence in the U.S. aerospace market. The investment reinforces confidence in the Wichita region's skilled workforce, world-class aerospace supply chain, and reputation as the Air Capital of the World while positioning EMI for continued growth in advanced manufacturing.

NIAR and Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems Form Strategic Partnership
National Institute for Aviation Research and Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the development, testing, certification, and deployment of advanced uncrewed aircraft systems and autonomous flight technologies. By combining NIAR's research expertise with Kelly Hills' operational capabilities, the collaboration positions Kansas as a national leader in Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, advanced air mobility, and next-generation aviation innovation.

NIAR and Orizon Aerostructures Announce Manufacturing Alliance
National Institute for Aviation Research and Orizon Aerostructures announced a strategic alliance to accelerate aerospace and defense manufacturing through integrated engineering, research, testing, and advanced production capabilities. The collaboration will help customers bring products to market faster while strengthening workforce development, manufacturing innovation, and supply chain resilience across the commercial aerospace, defense, and space industries.

Air Capital of the World Reception
This exclusive event, which has become the premier pre-event of the air show, brings together top leader leaders in aviation, space, defense and advanced manufacturing from around the globe. United States Senators and Representatives will be a part of the delegation led by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and will be joined by leaders in the Department of Defense, the United States Air Force, the NASA Administrator as well as other elected officials and industry suppliers.

The event demonstrates the advantages of investing in Wichita’s aerospace ecosystem.

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About the Greater Wichita Partnership
The Greater Wichita Partnership is dedicated to fast-forwarding regional economic growth in Wichita and South-Central Kansas. The organization works within three key priorities – jobs, talent and quality of place – to accelerate this objective. For more information, visit https://greaterwichitapartnership.org/home.