A bipartisan group of Arizona officials visited Mesa on Thursday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apache, the iconic military helicopter that first took flight in September 1975.
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs joined Congressmen Greg Stanton and Andy Biggs at Boeing’s manufacturing facility in northeast Mesa to commemorate Arizona’s role in developing the Apache, which is currently used by the U.S. Army and 16 other nations, including the U.K., Israel, Japan and South Korea.
The Apache, first developed by Hughes Helicopters, is now manufactured by Boeing.
“The Apache helicopter has made Arizona a leader in national defense and aerospace,” Hobbs said.
Arizona had the fourth highest concentration of aerospace manufacturing jobs in the country in 2021 and companies in the state were awarded $15 billion in Department of Defense contracts in 2022, according to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.
Boeing is the fourth largest employer in Mesa, employing 4,600 people in the city.
“Fifty years ago, a prototype lifted off the ground for the first time,” Stanton said. “That flight launched more than a helicopter. It launched 1000s of great careers, strengthened our national defense and helped build a modern Mesa.”
The event served as an example of real bipartisanship as Biggs, a Republican, and Stanton, a Democrat, spoke about how they worked together to support legislation to continue funding Apache helicopters.
“We don't always agree, Andy, but on this one, we're together,” Stanton said.
It also marked the first time Hobbs and Biggs have appeared together since the congressman entered the Republican gubernatorial primary in Arizona. The winner of that race will face Hobbs in Arizona’s 2026 election.
“I've known Gov. Hobbs for a long time, and, you know, I don't have anything personally against her and so when we can work together on something like this, I think it's really helpful,” said Biggs.
Hobbs, who served with Biggs in the Legislature, gave a similar assessment.
“We've always had a collegial relationship,” she said.
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