Carrying Person County’s Parachute Legacy into the Future – North American Aerodynamics

A Legacy Takes Flight

Few people may realize that right here in Person County there are uniquely-skilled craftspeople manufacturing parachutes that deliver tanks, trucks, and life-saving supplies to locations all over the world. For more than 60 years, North American Aerodynamics (NAA) has quietly sustained one of the most fascinating precision manufacturing traditions – parachute production – through their headquarters in Roxboro.

Not just any type of textile manufacturing, NAA’s work has supported military, aerospace, and humanitarian missions across the globe. And now, under new ownership, the company is ready to bring Person County’s historic parachute industry back to its former reputation as “the parachute capital of the world.”

A New Owner with a Grand Vision

In its 60th year in business, NAA has entered a new era under the leadership of Roberto Montañez, an aerospace engineer and long-time industry leader. Montañez has been in the parachute business since the late 1990s and also owns Butler Parachute Systems in Roanoke, Va. He currently serves as president of the Parachute Industry Association and as a trustee for the International Skydiving Museum & Hall of Fame – positions that underscore his deep passion for the craft and science of parachute design.

“I’m an engineer, and I love the products, and I love what we’re doing,” Montañez said. “This company has incredible potential, and the people of Person County have the skill and history to make it thrive again.”

Montañez retained longtime NAA employee, Linn Long, to lead operations in Roxboro. Together, they’ve wasted no time in rebuilding and expanding the business. Within just six months, their team has secured nearly $15 million in new contracts, with additional opportunities in the works. “Roberto’s drive and commitment to growing this business is unmatched,” Long shared. “He values our employees, invests in their success, and truly believes that Roxboro can be a leader in this field again.”

Built on a Proud Local Heritage

The roots of parachute manufacturing in Person County run deep. NAA was founded in the mid-1960s and was built upon a skilled workforce and a growing national defense industry. At its height, Roxboro was home to more parachute factories than anywhere else, earning it the title of “Parachute Capital of the World.”

That industry boom did not just produce critical defense equipment – it transformed local lives. In an era when traditional roles for women were in the home, parachute manufacturing provided steady jobs and a source of extra income with work hours that fit family life. The factory schedules often mirrored school hours, allowing mothers to be home when their children were. Those jobs created opportunities for families that they may not have had otherwise.

The work itself requires a rare blend of precision, patience, and craftsmanship; skills often passed down from one employee to the next. Some of the sewing machines used on the NAA floor today date back to World War I and World War II, a testament to both the durability of the equipment and the enduring craftsmanship of the people who use it.

Engineering for the Skies (or Maybe the Stadium)

NAA produces a wide array of parachute systems that meet rigorous military and aerospace standards, but realizing the extensive variety of uses across sectors is where the story becomes extraordinary.

Among the company’s products are sport canopies used in precision skydiving and demonstration jumps, including those seen at major sporting and commemorative events, where parachutists often open the ceremonies. You may have even spotted NAA products used for prize-drop or promotional parachutes at nearby stadiums.

Perhaps the most fascinating uses are the deceleration parachutes designed for B-52 bombers. These are massive, meticulously engineered canopies that help slow the aircraft upon landing. Each one takes more than 200 hours to produce and can withstand 35 to 50 deployments before being retired.

NAA also manufactures extraction canopies, which pull heavy cargo out of aircraft mid-flight, and cargo parachutes that deliver vehicles (think Humvees), supplies, and humanitarian aid to the ground below. In addition, the company crafts specialized canopies for sonobuoys – floating sensors that monitor the world’s oceans.

Each piece is hand-assembled in Roxboro, where quality control is a way of life. “Our products may look simple to the untrained eye,” Long said, “but every stitch matters. When you’re delivering a tank or a load of relief supplies, precision is everything.”

Innovation Meets Experience

While many manufacturing sectors have become automated, parachute production remains a craft that depends on skilled human hands. Workers at NAA cut, measure, and sew high-strength materials under strict specifications. Quality inspections are constant, and every component must meet military-grade standards for reliability and performance.

With Montañez’s background in aerospace engineering, NAA is blending this legacy of craftsmanship with modern innovation. The company has upgraded its digital design and testing capabilities, enhanced materials tracking, and launched a new website (naa-aero.com) to showcase its capabilities and recruit new talent.

“We’re hiring across the board,” Long said. “From sewing machine operators to quality control managers and engineers. There’s something for everyone. We’re rebuilding a team that represents the best of Person County.”

A Community Asset Reborn

The resurgence of NAA isn’t just about jobs, it’s about identity. There is a sense of pride that is shared by many locals who remember when parachute factories dotted the county’s industrial landscape and provided livelihoods for hundreds of employees. The Person County Museum of History is even developing an exhibit to capture that legacy, scheduled to open in early 2026. The exhibit will showcase artifacts, photographs, and stories from the era when Roxboro’s factories quite literally helped decorate the skies.

Stitching the Past to the Future

As the hum of century-old sewing machines continues inside NAA’s Roxboro facility, it’s clear that Person County’s parachute story is far from over. Under new leadership and with a renewed sense of purpose, the company is not just preserving history, it’s building on it.

In a global economy where so much production has moved overseas, there’s something deeply satisfying about knowing that the parachutes keeping our service members safe and our humanitarian missions airborne are made right here by local hands, using American-made components.

From the early days of women stitching parachutes between school drop-offs and pick-ups, to today’s engineers and technicians producing high-tech canopies for aircraft and defense systems, Person County’s story remains one of skill, resilience, and pride.

As Montañez and Long look ahead to the next chapter, one thing is certain – NAA is once again giving Person County’s parachute legacy a second wind.

1803 N. Main Street
Roxboro, NC 27573
(336) 599-9266
NAA-Aero.com