Convair san diego plant

Extensive in-service engineering facilities, located nearby on the Old Town Campus, provide a full range of systems engineering, management, logistics, installation, and technical support. The move of the SPAWAR headquarters staff and an associated program executive office staff, which began in April of , resulted in the establishment of more than 1, new jobs in San Diego.

SPAWAR directs the development, acquisition, and life cycle management of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence; surveillance and reconnaissance C4ISR systems for Navy, Marine Corps, selected joint service, allied nation and other government agency programs. The SPAWAR "corporation," which consists of the headquarters staff, a program executive office and three major Systems Centers in San Diego; Charleston, South Carolina and Norfolk, Virginia, includes more than 5, engineers and scientists, computer specialists, contract professionals, project managers, equipment installers, technicians and administrative support personnel.

Construction of AFP 19 began November , and the plant opened in It was built as an assembly plant for the B Liberator bomber, to augment primary design and assembly at the Lindberg Field Plant. Employment at the plant peaked at 45, in Ending the contract enables McDonnell Douglas to take over the business without assuming responsibility for Convair employees and facilities.

General Dynamics has been reducing its operations in San Diego since it announced in that it would abandon all defense markets it did not dominate.

The company began making aircraft here in with amphibious airplanes and continued with B bombers during World War II. The announcement ends two years of limbo for the Convair employees, who knew the parent company was trying to unload the operation. Officials at the International Assn.

McDonnell Douglas said it has made no decision on where the fuselages will be made once it takes over production. General Dynamics has delivered about of the fuselages called for in its contract and will ramp up production to deliver most if not all of the 80 remaining in its contract over the next 18 months.

This flight included three firsts; a the first flight across Australia by a seaplane, b the first flight across the Indian Ocean by any airplane, and c the first flight across equatorial Africa by a seaplane. The Model was a private company venture intended as modern replacement for the famous Douglas DC The success of the led to the development of the Model , , and significant contracts from the Air Force and Navy. The Wind Tunnel building can be seen enter, right. In the s it was common to see this airplane flying over San Diego bay during test flights.

Seen here are the metal rings of the Atlas that were welded together to fabricate the tank. A covered Atlas missile, at the North end of Building 4, awaits departure. Nearly all the land in this picture was once the San Diego Harbor.

Complex 14 Because the Atlas had such a powerful lifting platform, it was also used by the U. An Atlas launched the first Americans into orbit during the Mercury space programs, which eventually led to putting a man on the moon.

Notice the moon in the background, future target for several space efforts. Consolidated Convair Online Exhibit. We would like to thank all our sponsors who help us make a difference.