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| Boeing 777X aircraft in flight. Photo: Boeing |
[Avionics Today 12-17-14] Boeing broke ground in the construction of a new 367,000-square-foot facility, in which it will build parts for the new 777X commercial aircraft. Boeing forecasts that construction on the St. Louis, Mo. center will be completed in 2016, with work on 777X wing and empennage parts starting in 2017.
The new facility is an expansion of Boeing’s current tooling center at the site and will contain six autoclaves. Boeing has also tapped its Everett, Wash. facility as the location for a new composite wing center for the 777X program, where it will also perform final assembly of the aircraft.
“As we move forward with construction of our new center, we will significantly enhance our aerospace composite capability in St. Louis, positioning us for today’s opportunities, and tomorrow’s,” said Bob Ciesla, vice president of Boeing Military Aircraft Cross-Enterprise Design/Build. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Boeing St. Louis and the entire region, which enables us to bridge to the future as a site with both commercial and defense capabilities.”