Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

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Daher Aircraft CEO Nicolas Chabbert said last week at EAA AirVenture that construction of the company’s third final-assembly line is underway, following the recent groundbreaking for the Stuart, Florida facility and the start of site preparation.&nbsp;
The other two final-assembly lines are located at Daher’s Tarbes, France headquarters, where TBM turboprops are manufactured, and the Kodiak utility turboprop manufacturing facility in Sandpoint, Idaho. Plans call for the Stuart location to begin operations in the second quarter of 2027. “This satellite final assembly line will be capable of assembling aircraft for both programs, first the TBM, but as soon as possible, the Kodiak as well,” Chabbert said.
Daher’s expansion in Florida is part of the company’s “Take Off 2027” five-year strategic plan launched in 2023.&nbsp;
The new final-assembly facility is co-located with a Daher aerostructures manufacturing plant in Stuart. Daher's aerostructures operation, comprising seven sites worldwide, makes more than 300,000 parts annually for 20 civil and military aviation programs. Parts include wing panels, winglets, fuselage sections, landing gear doors, flaps, and radomes.

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