The U.S. aerospace ecosystem, checked by a person.
A source-checked U.S. aerospace ecosystem map of who builds, tests, teaches, supplies, and supports aerospace — Midwest & Great Lakes detailed first, with national cluster context.
256 organizations · 62 clusters · 13 states · source-checked
Who can build, test, train, supply, finance, transport, or support aerospace capability.
Where regional aerospace growth can form around anchors, suppliers, universities, logistics, and workforce.
Source-checked facts in the public index. Analyst interpretation kept separate as assessment.
Aerospace Index includes organizations with a source-checkable role in aerospace capability, aviation manufacturing, test infrastructure, industrial supply chain, workforce development, logistics, or regional aerospace ecosystem building.
Capacity + Opportunity Map. Capacity: who can build, test, supply, train, or support aerospace work. Opportunity: where regional growth nodes may form around anchors, suppliers, universities, and workforce.
Source-checked facts are kept separate from editorial assessment.
Maintained as an independent research project. Not affiliated with, funded by, or endorsed by any listed organization, agency, airport, company, or political body.
Some organizations appear as multiple entries when distinct facilities, units, or partnerships carry separate specializations. Each entry reflects a specific capability, not a duplicate listing. Corrections and suggestions: see the corrections form below.
Aerospace Index is an independent research and mapping project. It is not a government program, funding request, infrastructure development proposal, or political initiative, and it is not affiliated with any agency, airport, company, or political organization.
Each state is read as an aerospace ecosystem: who holds the cluster, where talent lives, where manufacturing happens, where testing/logistics/R&D appear, and what public-source roles are strongest.
Logic: aviation culture + avionics + MRO + manufacturing + engine/component supply
Main clusters: Oshkosh / Fox Valley, Milwaukee / Oak Creek, Madison, Racine, Appleton
Why it matters: Wisconsin is a detailed Midwest aviation/manufacturing layer, not only an EAA node.
Logic: Rockford supplier cluster + Chicago aviation operations/logistics + university R&D
Main clusters: Rockford, Greater Chicago, Urbana-Champaign, Quad Cities
Why it matters: Illinois connects supplier depth, major airports, aerospace systems and engineering talent.
Logic: auto/advanced manufacturing base + aerospace/defense suppliers + propulsion + UAS/software + university talent
Main clusters: Detroit, Ann Arbor, Pontiac/Oakland, West Michigan, Kalamazoo
Why it matters: Michigan turns industrial depth and software/autonomy into aerospace ecosystem context.
Logic: federal R&D + propulsion + test infrastructure + AAM/manufacturing expansion + supplier depth
Main clusters: Dayton, Cleveland/Sandusky, Cincinnati/Evendale, Columbus, Wilmington
Why it matters: Ohio is one of the strongest public-source Midwest aerospace states.
Logic: Purdue + propulsion + defense electronics + UAS + aviation workforce
Main clusters: Purdue/West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Crane, Grissom
Why it matters: Indiana combines Purdue’s aerospace talent with propulsion and defense-industrial infrastructure.
Logic: aircraft manufacturing + mission systems + materials + test complex + aviation education
Main clusters: Twin Cities, Duluth, Rosemount, South St. Paul, Mankato
Why it matters: Minnesota has aircraft, mission systems, materials and a growing test-complex story.
Logic: avionics + engineering talent + flight-test/human systems + Air Guard aviation operations
Main clusters: Cedar Rapids, Ames, Iowa City, Des Moines, Sioux City
Why it matters: Iowa’s aerospace logic is concentrated but strong: avionics and aerospace talent.
Logic: Boeing defense aerospace + St. Louis supplier base + universities + MRO/airport layer
Main clusters: St. Louis, St. Charles, Kansas City, Rolla
Why it matters: Missouri is anchored by St. Louis defense aerospace and supplier/MRO context.
Logic: Air Capital manufacturing + suppliers + NIAR test/certification + workforce + avionics
Main clusters: Wichita, Olathe, Kansas City side, Salina
Why it matters: Kansas/Wichita remains a core aircraft-production ecosystem in the Midwest frame.
Logic: strategic command + Air Force + MRO + aviation education
Main clusters: Omaha/Offutt, Lincoln
Why it matters: Nebraska is smaller but strategically relevant through Offutt/USSTRATCOM and Duncan Aviation.
Logic: UAS / autonomy / BVLOS / test site / aerospace education
Main clusters: Grand Forks, Fargo
Why it matters: North Dakota is a specialized UAS/autonomy anchor, not a generic small state.
Logic: specialized aerospace systems + Air Force + engineering education + defense manufacturing
Main clusters: Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings
Why it matters: South Dakota adds specialized aerospace/defense nodes anchored by Aerostar and Ellsworth.
Logic: national context space cluster: spacecraft, launch, propulsion and space systems
Main clusters: Denver/Littleton, Centennial, Boulder, Louisville, Berthoud
Why it matters: Colorado is retained as national comparison context, not removed from the system.
Source-checkable U.S. aerospace ecosystem entries, with the first detailed buildout focused on the 12 Midwest states. This is a starting body, not a complete directory.
Table view is best for comparison. Card view shows fuller organization details. Click a row or card to highlight its cluster on the preview map above.
| Tier | State | Organization | Category | Value-chain roles | Foundation layer | Ownership | Ticker | Source | Status | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Aerospace Index is a U.S. aerospace ecosystem map. The detailed index starts with the 12 Midwest states, while other major aerospace states are shown as national context and expansion targets.
Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota.
Goal: source-checkable state coverage across organizations, clusters, universities, test infrastructure, manufacturing, UAS, workforce, logistics, and supply-chain nodes.
California, Florida, Texas, Colorado, Alabama, Washington, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, New Mexico, Alaska.
Status: national context / planned expansion. These states help show the Midwest in proportion without turning the site into a shallow all-U.S. directory.
Aerospace Index uses public-source review. Entries are included only when there is a source-checkable role in aerospace, aviation manufacturing, test infrastructure, supply chain, workforce, logistics, human systems, regulation, or regional aerospace ecosystem building.
Entries are periodically reviewed and updated when new public evidence or corrections are received.
A public-source capability snapshot. This is not an investment score, readiness score, or procurement instruction. It helps visitors read the Midwest aerospace ecosystem by role.
| State | State logic | Talent | Manufacturing | Testing | R&D | Logistics | UAS | Satellite / Ground | Propulsion | Regulatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | aviation culture + avionics + MRO + manufacturing + engine/component supply | strong | medium | developing | medium | medium | developing | developing | strong | framework |
| Illinois | Rockford supplier cluster + Chicago aviation operations/logistics + university R&D | strong | strong | developing | medium | strong | developing | developing | developing | framework |
| Michigan | auto/advanced manufacturing base + aerospace/defense suppliers + propulsion + UAS/software + university talent | strong | strong | medium | strong | medium | medium | medium | strong | framework |
| Ohio | federal R&D + propulsion + test infrastructure + AAM/manufacturing expansion + supplier depth | strong | strong | strong | strong | strong | medium | medium | strong | framework |
| Indiana | Purdue + propulsion + defense electronics + UAS + aviation workforce | strong | medium | medium | medium | strong | medium | developing | strong | framework |
| Minnesota | aircraft manufacturing + mission systems + materials + test complex + aviation education | strong | strong | strong | medium | medium | developing | medium | developing | framework |
| Iowa | avionics + engineering talent + flight-test/human systems + Air Guard aviation operations | strong | medium | medium | medium | medium | developing | medium | developing | framework |
| Missouri | Boeing defense aerospace + St. Louis supplier base + universities + MRO/airport layer | strong | strong | developing | medium | strong | developing | medium | developing | framework |
| Kansas | Air Capital manufacturing + suppliers + NIAR test/certification + workforce + avionics | strong | strong | strong | strong | medium | medium | developing | developing | framework |
| Nebraska | strategic command + Air Force + MRO + aviation education | strong | medium | developing | medium | medium | developing | developing | developing | framework |
| North Dakota | UAS / autonomy / BVLOS / test site / aerospace education | strong | medium | strong | medium | medium | strong | developing | developing | framework |
| South Dakota | specialized aerospace systems + Air Force + engineering education + defense manufacturing | strong | medium | developing | medium | medium | developing | developing | developing | framework |
| Colorado | national context space cluster: spacecraft, launch, propulsion and space systems | developing | strong | strong | strong | medium | developing | strong | strong | framework |
Aerospace Index is an independent research project maintained by one researcher. Corrections, suggested organizations, and new public-source information are welcome — feedback and introductions matter more than anything else right now.