GKN Aerospace congratulates Bombardier on the CSeries aircraft's first flight

GKN Aerospace congratulates Bombardier Aerospace on today's successful first flight of the CSeries aircraft. GKN Aerospace is contracted through Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast to develop and supply critical structures on the advanced composite wings, which 
Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast has responsibility for producing, and which are amongst the largest and most complex composite aircraft structures to be manufactured and assembled in the UK.

GKN Aerospace is responsible for the development, design and manufacture of the all-composite aileron and winglet structures for both the CS100 and CS300 aircraft. The company's engineering team has completed a rigorous three-year design and development programme to create an innovative, one-piece aileron and winglet which minimises structural weight and complexity whilst offering critical performance benefits to the airframe. A state-of-the-art manufacturing and assembly process also increases the speed of manufacture and reduces production costs.

CSeries aileron and winglet design and development have been undertaken at GKN Aerospace's engineering centres in Munich, Germany and the Isle of Wight, UK. Production is taking place at the Isle of Wight manufacturing facility.

Phil Swash, CEO – Europe & Special Products Group, GKN Aerospace, comments:
“We are thrilled to see this innovative aircraft flying today. For our workforce involved with the airframe at our sites in Cowes and Munich, this is a particularly proud day. The GKN Aerospace-designed winglet and aileron are helping to ensure the CSeries aircraft achieves its targets for fuel burn, emissions, range and performance - targets which currently beat any airliner in its class. We look forward now to moving towards full-scale production for this impressive aircraft.”