Speculation Thread on Mystery Factory in Melbourne, FL

[sghill]

There's been some discussions about potential factories and locations for the fabled "Big F-ing Rocket" (BFR) or Mars Colonial Transport (MCT) over on the SpaceX BFR thread that's been off-topic at times, so I thought I'd try my hand at creating a new thread for further speculation on this topic.

In case anyone has missed it, Florida Today posted this cryptic article about a 820,000 sq. ft. mystery factory employing 1800 workers called "Project Magellan" to be constructed in two phases at Melbourne, FL International Airport which is only 20 miles from the Cape with water/rail/ road connections straight there: 

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20140326/BUSINESS/303260020/-20-8M-Magellan-package-gets-OK

They then followed up with more information (some of it contradictory in each article) in this article:
http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2014/04/03/space-florida-deal-gives-tax-free-ride-mystery-company/7253779/

The Melbourne Airport Authority is meeting April 4 to approve the project, and here is their agenda notice:  http://www.mlbair.com/portals/0/docs/meetings/SM%20BR04.04.14.pdf

I will point out that both articles state that the customer will build "aircraft," but that Space Florida generally doesn't do aircraft projects- they do space projects.  The reporter may have been using the term loosely, but perhaps not. 

This is a speculation thread after all, so chime in, give your opinions on this development.

[Jim]

Not Spacex.  That is nonsense and doesn't make any sense.

Space Florida is aerospace and not just space.  See below from Space Florida website.

Space Florida is State of Florida’s aerospace economic development agency


Attracting, retaining, and expanding aerospace or related supply chain businesses that create economic opportunities in the State of Florida by:


Mission Statement

Space Florida drives State economic development across the global aerospace enterprise.

    Vision Statement

    To be the world leader in developing tomorrow’s aerospace enterprise, creating a diversified business environment and robust continued economic growth for Florida.

[Jim]

And your answer to my post here fails.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34015.msg1179051#msg1179051

JSTARS and NG/Airbus would need/needed the same type facilities.   So what if they were modifying existing aircraft, still need large facilities.

[Prober]

a Jeff Bezos's company?

[JBF]

Honda's small jet is close to final FAA approval, that is a possibility for the factory as well.

[TrueGrit]

At first glance it sounds like it is tied to Embrier's recent expansion into Florida per this article.  Embrier has opened an engineering center in Melbourne, tied to a manufacturing center in Jacksonville.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/04/02/stateline-aerospace-manufacturing-south/7209467/

[rusty]

At first glance it sounds like it is tied to Embrier's recent expansion into Florida per this article.  Embrier has opened an engineering center in Melbourne, tied to a manufacturing center in Jacksonville.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/04/02/stateline-aerospace-manufacturing-south/7209467/

MRO? With Embraer's low-cost model and existing hubs in Kenya, Brazil and Singapore I doubt they'd enter Florida without considerable financial support.

[Jim]

They are already in Florida

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20131029/BUSINESS/131029016/Embraer-expansion-bring-600-new-jobs-Melbourne

http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/jets/embraer-begins-final-production-first-us-assembled-phenom-300

[rusty]

They are already in Florida
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20131029/BUSINESS/131029016/Embraer-expansion-bring-600-new-jobs-Melbourne
http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/jets/embraer-begins-final-production-first-us-assembled-phenom-300

Interesting. I didn't realize they'd expanded their bizjets here so rapidly as I really never thought of them in that sector.
With as many Ultra low-cost carriers (Mexico, US and Canada) looking at E-Jets, and the financial support/relationship they seem to have with Florida - I suppose an MRO hub for them could be viable.

[Jim]

If its aircraft modification, JSTARS modified 17 707's over the course of around 10 years.  They didn't need 1800 people under 820,000 sq. feet to do it.

And if it's final aircraft assembly, a la your Airbus example,

It wasn't final assembly, it was mods to Airbus planes similar to done like JSTARS

[go4mars]

Honda's small jet is close to final FAA approval, that is a possibility for the factory as well.

Wikipedia excerpt: "The aircraft will be made at Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. The plant for making the aircraft was started in 2007 and was completed in late 2011.[6][11]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_HA-420_HondaJet

[JasonAW3]

Ok,

     REALLY out there speculation.
     Someone had a REAL breakthrough with the Albercrombie Metric and is building the first test craft, with the intention of building the First Manned Starship.

     Truth be told, probably either an a380 Killer factory, of possible a Commercial AirCarft rework facility.

[mgfitter]

Sorry to dampen everyone's hot speculation here, but this has nothing to do with space.

"Project Magellan" is Bell Helicopter's new 525 Magellan Super Medium Transport long-range offshore helicopter. Prior to 2012 it was called "Project X".

Bell are the ones building the new factory at Melbourne Airport in Florida as part of the $500 mil effort. They are already advertising for new jobs too, for those who might be interested.

-MG

[simonbp]

Bell's website calls it the "525 Relentless", but you're probably right:

http://bell525supermedium.net/

[woods170]

Sorry to dampen everyone's hot speculation here, but this has nothing to do with space.

"Project Magellan" is Bell Helicopter's new 525 Magellan Super Medium Transport long-range offshore helicopter. Prior to 2012 it was called "Project X".

Bell are the ones building the new factory at Melbourne Airport in Florida as part of the $500 mil effort. They are already advertising for new jobs too, for those who might be interested.

-MG

http://m.amarillo.com/news/local-news/2012-07-10/aedc-bell-reach-42m-plant-deal
http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2012-11-02/relentless-ly-moving-forward-bell-helicopter-expansion-continues

This piece of (old) news above says the plant for the Bell 525 Relentless is constructed near the Rick Husband Amarillo International Aiport in Texas. Naturally, that is nowhere even near Melbourne, Florida. So I doubt the mystery factory at Melbourne's is the new plant for the Bell 525.

[After]

Maybe Thales?

[woods170]

Maybe Thales?

Welcome to the forum. Thales? For what exactly?

[Lar]

If someone has solid info this plant is for space related things, then please post it. If not, this thread probably has run its course.. helicopters are off topic for here.

[mgfitter]

I've had a tour of the site. It's definitely for Bell Helicopters. Nothing to do with a space project.

-MG.

[Lar]

And that's that, thanks!. Thread closed.

Here's a link to a Florida Today article (sent by an NSF member to me) suggesting it's Northrup Grumman. But still aircraft, not space. Leaving thread closed.

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/money/companies/2014/05/06/northrop-grumman-is-mystery-project-magellan-company-behind-1800-jobs/8780513/

and more info... Sen. Bill Nelson shared info on what they're planning for the site on 8 May 2014

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/money/companies/2014/05/08/northrop-grumman-project-magellan-expansion-involves-military-work/8843437/

And yet more

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/05/10/northrop-grumman-announces-expansion-florida-space-coast/

That article is mostly pols congratulating each other, IMHO, no details of what will be done there.