BY : kansas


Plane's tail section, struts and fuselage to be built in Wichita

Spirit AeroSystems is a major partner in a Boeing-led team to provide the U.S. Navy with its next long-range, anti-submarine aircraft.

To underscore that role, Boeing's P-8A Poseidon mobile demonstration trailer is at Spirit this week, giving employees and others a glimpse of the plane's capabilities.

Spirit will build the plane's fuselage, airframe tail sections and struts in Wichita.

The P-8A is a derivative of Boeing's 737-800 commercial aircraft. It will replace the Navy's aging fleet of P-3C aircraft. Thenew plane will be able to fly higher, faster and longer than current aircraft.

The aircraft will be used primarily for long-range anti-submarine warfare. It also will be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

The plane is expected to transform how the Navy's maritime patrol and reconnaissance force train, operate and deploy, Boeing officials said.

Boeing is heading a development team that includes Spirit, CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and GE Aviation.

"To be a partner in this industry is very important," said David Bartz, Spirit's 737 fuselage structures and systems operations director.

Spirit will ship the first fuselage to Boeing in the first quarter of 2008. The P-8A is scheduled for its first flight in 2009 and will be ready for initial deployment in 2013.

Boeing was awarded a $3.9 billion system development contract that calls for five test aircraft and for developing and integrating the software, onboard mission systems and training. The Navy plans to buy up to 108 planes.

India is considering acquiring a derivative of the P-8A designed for the Indian navy. And there is the potential for sales to other international customers.

The demonstration trailer shows off the spectrum of the P-8A's system capabilities and is being shown to Navy personnel, suppliers and employees.

Inside is a two-person cockpit simulator that replicates what it will be like to fly the P-8A and demonstrates its mission capabilities.

The P-8A program has been challenging for Spirit and has taken a lot of up-front planning, Bartz said. The program also is different from previous military programs.

Military changes needed on the 737 commercial aircraft platform will be done as it goes down the production line. That's a change from previous military programs, in which modifications were made after the airplane was complete.

"It's not your mother and father's 737," said Pat Nash Jr., Boeing senior manager of business development on the program.