You may not know this, but the founders of InterConnect Wiring were born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. When we started InterConnect in 1993, my older brother, John Ashour (our CEO) and I decided it would be best to stay in Fort Worth for many reasons. Please allow me to do an educational piece on my favorite city and the history of one of the aerospace greats.
Fort Worth, Texas is evolving quickly. Now the fourth-largest city in Texas and the eleventh-largest in the United States, it continues to draw people in with its blend of culture, character, and opportunity. From its renowned Tex-Mex (Joe T. Garcias) and barbecue (Angelos) to its growing presence in film and entertainment (“Landman” by Taylor Sheridan, who was also raised here in our great city), Fort Worth has become a city that feels both deeply rooted and constantly evolving.
But there’s another side to Fort Worth that doesn’t always make the headlines.
An Aerospace Legacy Takes Shape
This city is also home to a powerful aerospace legacy, one that has shaped the region for decades. For those new to the area, it may come as a surprise just how many aerospace companies operate here, with roots tracing back to World War II. What began as a strategic hub for aviation and defense has grown into a lasting ecosystem of innovation, engineering, and precision manufacturing.
Today, that legacy continues through companies like InterConnect Wiring, supporting the systems and technologies behind modern-day fighter aircraft. This includes work that contributes to programs led by Lockheed Martin here in Fort Worth.
That connection matters, because the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth stands on the very grounds where Convair, an aerospace pioneer responsible for some of the most advanced aircraft of its time, once operated. When Convair’s chapter came to a close, Lockheed Martin carried the work forward, continuing a legacy of aerospace innovation in the same place it began.
The Rise of Convair
Originally known as Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, Convair became one of the most influential aerospace manufacturers of the mid-20th century. In 1954, the company was acquired by General Dynamics, marking the beginning of a new chapter defined by rapid innovation and ambitious engineering.
During its peak, Convair was responsible for developing some of the most notable aircraft of its time, from the B-24 Liberator and PBY Catalina to supersonic interceptors like the F-102 Delta Dagger. The company also played a role beyond traditional aviation, contributing to early space technology through programs like the Atlas rocket.
The Moment That Defined an Era
On August 6, 1946 at Carswell Air Force Base — now known as Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth — a crowd gathered on the tarmac as Convair prepared for a major milestone: the first of the XB-36 prototype. Archival footage from that day offers a rare look at that day. It is a must watch video. In fact, the little boy at the very end is the grandfather of one of our marketing team members! Watch it here.
Piloted by Beryl Arthur Erickson, the aircraft took off for its maiden flight, introducing what would become one of the most significant long-range strategic bombers of its time.
The moment marked a defining point for Convair, reinforcing its role in advancing aerospace innovation during a critical period in aviation history.
But like many pioneers, Convair’s story was not without its challenges.
Shifting Skies
In the decades that followed, financial losses in the commercial aviation sector, particularly tied to the Convair 880 and 990, combined with shifting defense priorities during the Cold War and rising aircraft development costs, began to reshape Convair’s role within the industry.
Over time, operations gradually wound down. In 1994, General Dynamics announced the closure of Convair’s San Diego plant, signaling the end of an era. By 1996, the remaining Convair entities, including those in Fort Worth, were formally deactivated, with portions of the business absorbed by companies like Lockheed Corporation and McDonnell Douglas.
A Legacy That Continues
Though the name Convair may have faded, its influence never did. Today that legacy lives on through the companies, engineers, and skilled teams who continue the work right here in Fort Worth. At InterConnect Wiring, that means supporting the systems behind modern aircraft and contributing to programs led by Lockheed Martin, operating on the very grounds where this history began.
The aircraft may look different. The technology has advanced. But the work, the precision, the craftsmanship, and the responsibility behind every system remain.
In Fort Worth, aerospace isn’t just part of the economy. It’s part of the story.
