Redmond's future is grounded in high tech firms

REDMOND — With its 100-plus-year deep roots in agriculture, it might not be obvious that Redmond is surrounded by high-level technology in business, education and the professions. Nowhere is that truer than Stratos Aircraft on SE Franklin, whose campus comprises three buildings with a total footprint of 40,000 square feet.

Simply put, they build airplanes. Right in Redmond. From start to finish. You don’t put a six-seat jet into the sky without a huge amount of technology. Stratos builds its 716X using the identical technology as the most prized airliner in the sky — the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The only difference is scale and market with the 716 catering to the executive or elite flyer.