Wichita, Kansas has been known as the “Air Capitol of the World” since the 1920s. Building aircrafts for the army and for the jet-set, the city is to airplanes what Detroit is to cars. But, after September 11th, new orders plummeted, and Wichita-based manufacturers cut over 15,000 jobs between 2001 and 2004. The latest blow to the industrial city came on Wednesday when Boeing announced plans to close its Defense, Space and Security facility. Carl Brewer, mayor of Wichita, and Lon Smith, executive director of the Kansas Aviation Museum, speak about the city’s legacy and its present-day impact on Wichita’s population.
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