| Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Public (NYSE: SPR) |
| Founded | 1927 (in 2005, company took on current name) |
| Headquarters | Wichita, Kansas, USA |
| Key people | Jeff Turner, CEO |
| Industry | Aerospace and defense |
| Products | Aerostructures Space systems |
| Revenue | $3.28 Billion year end (12/31/2006) |
| Employees | 11,845 (12/31/2006) |
| Website | www.spiritaero.com |
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. ("Spirit" NYSE: SPR), based in Wichita, Kansas, is the world's largest first-tier aerostructures manufacturer. The company builds several important pieces of Boeing aircraft, including the fuselage of the 737, portions of the 787 fuselage, and the cockpit (referred to as "Section 41" by Boeing) of nearly all of its airliners. Spirit's main competition comes from Vought Aircraft Industries, Goodrich, Alenia, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Spirit formed when Boeing Commercial Airplanes sold its Wichita division to investment firm Onex. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems retained its military business in Wichita, which lies on neighboring land. The Wichita division was responsible for construction of many important aircraft in Boeing's history, including the B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet, and B-52 Stratofortress. Spirit can trace its legacy back even further to Stearman Aircraft, which was founded on the same site. Stearman later became part of Boeing. Spirit also includes North American Aviation's former Tulsa and McAlester facilities (both in Oklahoma.) On January 31, 2006, BAE Systems announced it had agreed to sell its aerostructures business to Spirit.[1] The BAE unit, which was renamed Spirit AeroSystems (Europe) Ltd., is a major supplier to Raytheon (5%), Airbus (80%), and Boeing (15%). The transaction was completed on April 1, 2006. With this purchase, Spirit is no longer catastrophically dependent upon a single customer for business. After planning to take Spirit public,[2] at initial public offering on November 21, 2006, the firm's stock rose 10% on the first day.[3] Onex still owns 58% of Spirit, which results in 92% of voting power, as its shares confer "supervoting" power.[3] Former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) serves as a labor consultant for Spirit and sits on its board of directors.[1]
Facilities
- Wichita, Kansas (Headquarters, ex-Stearman/Boeing)
- McAlester, Oklahoma (ex-North American)
- Tulsa, Oklahoma (ex-North American)
- Samlesbury, England, United Kingdom (ex-BAE Systems)
- Prestwick, Scotland, United Kingdom (ex-BAE Systems)
References
External links
- Official site.
- "Spirit gets first shot at non-Boeing job", Wichita Business Journal, October 16, 2005.
|
|
|
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
