WICHITA, Kan., Nov. 30, 2016 /CNW/ -- Spirit AeroSystems Inc.
[NYSE: SPR] today announced completion of an expansion project on
the Spirit Wichita campus to support production of the 737 thrust
reverser. The expansion supports production rate increases already
planned for the Boeing 737 program. The company also celebrated
delivering the first 737 MAX thrust reverser with the new composite
inner wall to the flight test program. Spirit produces the 737 MAX
fuselage, pylon, thrust reverser and engine nacelle at its
Wichita, Kan., facility and the
wing leading edges at its Tulsa,
Okla., facility. Spirit is responsible for delivering about
70 percent of the 737 structure to Boeing.
"We're excited to celebrate completion of this expansion project
and delivery of the first thrust reverser with a composite inner
wall," said Tom Gentile, Spirit
AeroSystems president and chief executive officer. "Spirit has
delivered assemblies and components for more than 9,000 737s since
the model entered service, and we look forward to supporting the
737's continued success and competitiveness through this newest
expansion."
Spirit is using a proven composite inner wall material,
providing Boeing with a maintainable, producible and reliable
solution for the 737 MAX. The new design includes a thermal
protection system, which provides reliable protection from the heat
generated by the new fuel efficient Leap-1B engines made by CFM
International. The 737 MAX is 20 percent more fuel efficient than
the original Next-Generation 737.
The 737 MAX will extend the Next-Generation 737 range advantage
with the capability to fly more than 3,500 nautical miles (6,510
kilometers), an increase of 340 to 570 nautical miles (629 to 1,055
kilometers). Delivery of the first 737 MAX is scheduled for the
first half of 2017.
Boeing, which currently produces 42 737s per month, will
increase the rate to 47 airplanes per month in 2017. To support
rate increases, Spirit also opened a new expansion to support 737
MAX thrust reverser production. The new expansion is 45,000 sqft.
and will deliver 94 thrust reversers per month to support the next
rate increase.
"Delivering this very important capability to our customer is
our top priority," said Duane
Hawkins, Spirit's senior vice president of Boeing Programs.
"Spirit helped design and develop a technical solution for our
customer and now we have the capacity to deliver the product on
time and with the highest quality possible."
Spirit employs about 15,000 people worldwide designing and
building complex aerostructures for the world's most recognizable
airplanes. Spirit builds the forward fuselage section of every
Boeing Commercial Airplane in production today, as well as wing and
propulsion components.
On the web: www.spiritaero.com
On Twitter: @SpiritAero
About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.
Spirit AeroSystems is
one of the world's largest independent producers of large
aerostructures. Its core products include fuselages, pylons,
nacelles and wing components. Spirit has long-term agreements in
place with its largest customers, Boeing and Airbus. Other
customers include Northrop Grumman, Bombardier, Rolls Royce,
Mitsubishi, Sikorsky and Bell Helicopter. Based in Wichita, Kan., Spirit operates facilities in
the U.S., U.K., France and
Malaysia. Spirit also provides
aftermarket customer support, including MRO, spare parts, and
engineering services in North
America, Europe and
Asia.
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SOURCE Spirit AeroSystems Inc.