US manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems has delivered the centre fuselage section of the Airbus A350 to the airframer, having completed assembly of the primary components.
The centre fuselage had been among the sections which were causing difficulties for the A350 schedule.
Airbus had pointed out last November that the composite central fuselage - designated section 15 - was particularly complex because it had to handle specific loads and stresses.
Spirit produces panels for the section at its North Carolina facility, and ships them to its French site at Saint-Nazaire. The first panels were shipped in October last year.
The upper and forward lower shell panels are then assembled at the Saint-Nazaire plant, from where the completed section is delivered to Airbus.
"Our close collaboration with Airbus made this possible," said Spirit's North Carolina and Saint-Nazaire general manager Dan Wheeler.
He said the manufacturer was "working diligently" in order to meet Airbus's requirements as the A350 inches towards production.
Spirit also produces the composite front wing spar as well as the fixed leading edge for the A350. These sections have already been shipped to Airbus's UK facility.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
