State tries to lure aircraft plant to Oklahoma City or Tulsa

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State officials are bidding to bring an aircraft plant to either Oklahoma City or Tulsa.<br/><br/>Details of the bid were not released, but a spokesman for Governor Brad Henry calls

Tuesday, April 5th 2005, 9:02 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State officials are bidding to bring an aircraft plant to either Oklahoma City or Tulsa.

Details of the bid were not released, but a spokesman for Governor Brad Henry calls it "competitive."

The plant would refurbish military tanker aircraft for the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company. The company is bidding on a Pentagon contract to modify planes for the US Air Force at a factory in the United States.

If the company wins the contract it will build a $600-million assembly plant and hire about 1,150 workers and build an engineering and research center with up to 200 workers. The company says it will build the engineering center whether it wins the Pentagon contract or not.

State Commerce Department officials say a list of about 12 potential sites will be chosen by mid year and the final selection is expected by the end of the year.