Cirrus Aircraft Expands Grand Forks Manufacturing Facility with 30,000 Sq Ft Addition for Composite Manufacturing

North Dakota, USA – Cirrus Aircraft has celebrated the opening of its expanded manufacturing facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota, on 14 August 2026, adding more than 30,000 square feet to strengthen composite manufacturing operations and increase production capacity, including confirmation that Grand Forks will manufacture composites for the new TRAC10 flight training aircraft. The Grand Forks expansion supports Cirrus's flight training aircraft production ramp — with the TRAC10 (recently unveiled with Garmin AXIS-based Perspective Core avionics) entering a competitive MOSAIC-eligible training aircraft market.

• The Cirrus Grand Forks manufacturing facility has been expanded by more than 30,000 square feet, supporting increased production capacity across the Cirrus product portfolio.
• Grand Forks will manufacture composites for the new TRAC10 flight training aircraft.
• The expanded facility supports current and forecasted production rates through an optimised production layout, improved workflow, automation capability, equipment integration with business systems, and workplace safety improvements.
• The Grand Forks facility employs approximately 500 people, with 80% of the workforce dedicated to direct manufacturing operations across manufacturing, engineering, safety and quality assurance, CNC machining, HR, and training.
• Local partnership contributions came from the City of Grand Forks, the State of North Dakota, the Bank of North Dakota, and the University of North Dakota.
• Cirrus operates seven U.S. locations: Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; Greater Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Benton Harbor, Michigan.
• Worldwide flight time on Cirrus aircraft has exceeded 19 million hours; the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS) — the first FAA-certified whole-airframe parachute safety system included as standard equipment on an aircraft — has been credited with more than 300 lives saved.

Statements

• "This expansion reflects our continued investment in our people, our products, and the Grand Forks community. By adding more than 30,000 square feet, creating new jobs, and enhancing our workplace for our team members, we're positioning Cirrus for continued growth. The strong partnerships we've built with the City of Grand Forks, the State of North Dakota, the Bank of North Dakota, and the University of North Dakota have given us the confidence to continue investing here, including making Grand Forks the location where we will manufacture composites for the new TRAC10 flight training aircraft," said Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer at Cirrus Aircraft.
• "Grand Forks has played an essential role in Cirrus' growth and manufacturing strategy for decades. Our success starts with our people and our supportive community. This investment allows us to create an even better environment for our team while expanding the capacity and capabilities needed to support our continued growth," said Pat Waddick, President of Innovation and Operations at Cirrus Aircraft.

About Cirrus Aircraft
Cirrus Aircraft is the recognised global leader in personal aviation, founded in 1984, producing the best-selling SR Series high-performance single-engine piston aircraft and the Vision Jet — the world's first single-engine Personal Jet and recipient of the Robert J. Collier Trophy. The company has redefined aviation performance, comfort, and safety with innovations including the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), and operates seven U.S. facilities including Duluth, Minnesota; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Greater Dallas, Texas; Greater Phoenix, Arizona; Greater Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Source: Cirrus Aircraft