WICHITA, Kan., Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit
AeroSystems Inc. [NYSE: SPR] announced it has completed the first
fuselage to Bell Helicopter for the Joint Multi-Role Technology
Demonstrator (JMR-TD) program. The unit was designed and assembled
in Spirit's rapid prototyping facility in Wichita, Kan., in just 22 months. The
composite fuselage is being prepped to ship to Bell's Amarillo,
Texas, facility for final assembly.
To see images of the delivery ceremony, click here.
"Delivering a fuselage from design to completion in 22 months is
an amazing accomplishment," said Spirit President and CEO
Larry Lawson. "Spirit's unique
capability to design, build and deliver with the highest quality
and lowest possible cost make us a great partner on revolutionary
programs like the Bell V-280."
The U.S. Army-led JMR-TD program is the science and technology
precursor to the Department of Defense's Future Vertical Lift
program, with the goal to replace 2,000 to 4,000 medium-class
utility and attack helicopters. The V-280 Valor is Bell
Helicopter's offering for the JMR-TD program. A next generation
tiltrotor, the Bell V-280 Valor advanced technology tiltrotor
provides unmatched speed, range and payload for expeditionary
maneuver to win in a complex world.
"Spirit AeroSystems is proud to be an investing member of Team
Valor with 10 other premier aerospace companies. Together we are
helping the Department of Defense inform requirements and reduce
risk on a new development program while at the same time providing
the capabilities to win on the battlefield," said Phil Anderson, Spirit senior vice president of
Spirit Defense.
The V-280 is scheduled to make its first flight in the second
half of 2017. You can find more information about the V-280 at
www.bellv280.com.
On the Web: www.spiritaero.com
On Twitter: @SpiritAero
About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.
Spirit AeroSystems,
with headquarters in Wichita,
Kan., USA, is one of the world's largest non-OEM designers
and manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial aircraft. In
addition to its Wichita and
Chanute facilities in Kansas, Spirit has locations in Tulsa and McAlester,
Okla.; Kinston, N.C.;
Prestwick, Scotland; Preston, England; Subang, Malaysia; and Saint-Nazaire, France. In the U.S., Spirit's core products
include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components.
Additionally, Spirit provides aftermarket customer support
services, including spare parts, maintenance/repair/overhaul, and
fleet support services in North
America, Europe and
Asia. Spirit Europe produces wing components for a host of
customers, including Airbus.
Photo
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SOURCE Spirit AeroSystems Inc.