Spirit AeroSystems completes 500th Boeing 787 composite forward fuselage

Spirit AeroSystems (Wichita, Kan.) has successfully delivered key components to Boeing for the 500th 787 Dreamliner. Spirit builds the 787 forward fuselage and engine pylons at its Wichita facility and the wing fixed leading edge and wing moveable leading edge in Tulsa, Okla., and Subang, Malaysia. The company has been delivering these assemblies and components to the 787 program since 2007 and unit 500 was delivered to Boeing in September.

"Spirit is extremely proud of our collaboration with Boeing and the work we do together to build the world's fastest-selling twin-aisle airplane, the 787," says Tom Gentile, Spirit AeroSystems president and chief executive officer. "Reaching 500 is a significant milestone for Spirit, and we look forward to building on this partnership as we continue to deliver high-quality products to Boeing."

Spirit delivers a fully integrated forward fuselage structure on the 787 program, with all flight controls tested and installed. The composite forward fuselage section, known as section 41, is built using auto fiber placement machines winding composite tape into a one-piece fuselage section. The completed structure is assembled using Spirit Exact, a proprietary assembly process using pre-located holes and automated riveters. The 787 pioneered the use of composites in large-scale commercial airplanes.

Spirit builds the forward fuselage section of every Boeing commercial airplane in production today as well as wing and propulsion components.