Aviation soars in OKC

If you are an aviation aficionado, you probably already know what a major role that aviation and aerospace plays in our current economy and in Oklahoma’s history. Aviation pioneers Clyde Cessna, Will Rogers, Shannon Lucid, Wiley Post, and John “Lee” Atwood all contributed to the craft of aviation while living in Oklahoma, with Will Rogers and Wiley Post both calling Oklahoma “home” for the majority of their lives.

In fact, Wiley Post was the first person to fly solo around the world, the developer of the first pressurized suit and the discoverer of the jet stream – all before his death at the age of 36. The spirit of discovery and progress he embodied continues today, as aviation is one of the key drivers of our region’s economy. There are more than 300 public- and private-sector aviation and aerospace firms in the Greater Oklahoma City region alone, and Oklahoma is now one of the top 10 states in traditional aerospace occupation employment. Learn more about Oklahoma City’s booming aerospace industry here.