Aerospace

Breitling Launches New Navitimer Watch Exclusive to SWISS

Breitling launched a limited series of watches for Swiss passengers.

The Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling has launched the Navitimer B01 SWISS Limited Edition, especially for SWISS. Produced in 700 copies, it is offered exclusively to passengers on certain airlines of the company. SWISS and Breitling are long-standing partners. Since this year, the two companies have been promoting sustainable air transport together.

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Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is now offering its passengers the Navitimer B01 SWISS Limited Edition, recently launched by Breitling. This special edition coincides with the 70th anniversary of this iconic watch ^and the 20th anniversary of ^SWISS . Limited to 700 pieces, the pilot’s watch will only be available on board selected SWISS long-haul flights . It was presented for the first time this Thursday morning by Dieter Vranckx, CEO of SWISS, and Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling. Since the launch of the first Navitimer in 1952, Breitling’s original pilot’s watch has enjoyed great popularity.

Dieter Vranckx, CEO of SWISS: “SWISS and Breitling share the same values. Both brands offer the highest quality products and services with scrupulous attention to detail. The new Navitimer SWISS Limited Edition combines these characteristics perfectly and I am very happy that we can offer it exclusively to our passengers on the occasion of our 20th ^anniversary ”.

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Georges Kern, CEO of Breitling: “The SWISS Limited Edition celebrates both the 70th anniversary of the Navitimer ^and our long-standing partnership with SWISS. Our Swiss roots and our shared passion for aviation have united us for many years and the launch of this iconic watch reflects a new stage in our collaboration”.

The Navitimer B01 SWISS Limited Edition maintains its characteristic design details while being unique. The sobriety of the anthracite dial and the black chronograph counters perfectly highlight the red accents reminiscent of the typical SWISS red. An airplane also adorns the second hand. The SWISS logo is engraved on the back of the watch, as well as the words “ONE OF 700”, the distinctive sign of the limited series. The open case back is inspired by the turbine engine of a Boeing-777-300ER.

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.