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WICHITA, Kan., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., today rolled out the first developmental barrel section for the 787 Dreamliner built in its Wichita, Kan., factory. The barrel, called Section 41, comprises the airplane's forward section and is made of advanced composite materials. The developmental section measures 19 feet in diameter and 24 feet long.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050825/CGTH007 )

The Wichita facility also has the design and manufacturing responsibilities to provide the 787's pylons. The pylon holds the engine to the airplane. The company's Tulsa facility will design and build the airplane wing's leading edges.

"Today is a historic day for Spirit AeroSystems," Jeff Turner, President and CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, told a gathering of hundreds of employees, airplane partners and media at an on-site roll out ceremony.

"The 41 Section on display here today is the first major piece of airplane hardware completed by Spirit AeroSystems. It also is a marvel of modern technology and an example of industry-leading teamwork and innovation on behalf of the employees of Spirit AeroSystems and our entire supply chain. Because of the knowledge and skills of our excellent team, I am confident many more modern marvels will follow."

A 787 production forward section is expected to be produced in Wichita next year, complete with flight deck and systems installations. It will ship in 2007 by a special, modified 747 cargo airplane to The Boeing Company's plant in Everett, Wash., for final assembly.

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc., an Onex company, designs and builds part of every Boeing commercial jetliner except the 717. It produces the entire fuselage of the 737 as well as engine nacelles, struts and nose sections for the 737, 747, 767 and 777 jetliners. Spirit AeroSystems also specializes in designing and fabricating complex tooling for aircraft manufacturing and assembly.

It also designs and produces slats, flaps, forward leading edges and trailing edges for 737 wings, slats and floor beams for the 777 airplane, and wing and fuselage components for the 747. Additionally, Spirit AeroSystems has design and manufacturing responsibilities for the forward section, engine pylons and the fixed and moveable wing components for the 787 airplane. Onex purchased the Wichita operation from The Boeing Company in June 2005. Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050825/CGTH007AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comSpirit AeroSystems, Inc.