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December, Commander Premier Aircraft Corp. will move into the hangar at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport formerly leased to Renaissance Aircraft. The company expects its first plane to be completed in its new facility by next summer.

Buyers will pay $600,000 apiece for single-engine four-seater planes the manufacturer boasts is the best single-engine plane made.

Cape Girardeau is to be congratulated for aggressively pursuing a new tenant for its hangar after financial problems forced Renaissance Aircraft to close before producing a single plane. Cape Girardeau beat out more than 150 cities in the competition for Commander.

Commander has had its own financial difficulties. Fifty owners of Commander aircraft bought the bankrupt company last June. The company lost its lease on its hangar in Bethany, Okla.

Commander expects to employ 45 people at first and 100 people within three years. The Cape Area MAGNET Association has projected an annual economic impact locally of $4 million.

Last month, 2,000 bikers converged on Cape Girardeau for the annual state rally of the Harley Owners Group.

Owners of Commander aircraft equally proud of their flying machines.

We hope a COG rally at the regional airport is just around the corner.