Boeing NewGen Tanker Win Would Bring 370 Jobs, $17 Million to Georgia

/PRNewswire/ -- The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) today announced that Georgia will benefit from an estimated 370 total jobs and generate an estimated $17 million in annual economic impact if the Boeing NewGen Tanker is selected as the U.S. Air Force's next aerial refueling aircraft.

Boeing submitted its proposal July 9 to replace 179 of the Air Force's 400 Eisenhower-era KC-135 aircraft. The Air Force is expected to award a contract in the next few months.

"The Boeing NewGen Tanker program will contribute to economic recovery in Georgia by supporting jobs in the aerospace industry – jobs for Georgia workers who will help America's warfighters complete their missions and return home safely," said Mark DeVoss, Supplier Management director, Boeing Tanker Programs.

Georgia manufacturers ready to produce critical components on the NewGen Tanker include TIGHITCO in Atlanta.

Currently, Boeing has 654 employees in Georgia and works with nearly 413 suppliers/vendors, delivering a total $204 million in annual economic impact.

The NewGen Tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane and updated with the latest and most advanced technology. Capable of fulfilling the Air Force's needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients, the combat-ready NewGen Tanker will meet or exceed the 372 mandatory requirements described in the service's final KC-X Request for Proposal released Feb. 24.

The NewGen Tanker will be made with a low-risk approach to manufacturing that relies on existing Boeing facilities in Washington state and Kansas as well as U.S. suppliers throughout the nation, with decades of experience delivering dependable military tanker and derivative aircraft. Nationwide, the NewGen Tanker program will support approximately 50,000 total U.S. jobs with Boeing and more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states.

The Boeing NewGen Tanker also will be more cost-effective to own and operate than a larger, heavier tanker. It will save American taxpayers more than $10 billion in fuel costs over its 40-year service life because it burns 24 percent less fuel than the competitor's airplane.

Boeing has been designing, building, modifying and supporting tankers for decades. These include the KC-135 that will be replaced in the KC-X competition, and the KC-10 fleet. The company also has delivered four KC-767Js to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and is on contract to deliver four KC-767As to the Italian Air Force.

More information on Boeing's NewGen Tanker, including video clips and an interactive tour of the aircraft, is available at www.UnitedStatesTanker.com. For more information on joining the company's efforts, visit www.RealAmericanTankers.com.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space &Security (www.boeing.com/bds) is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

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Lockheed Martin Marietta Facility Kicks Off F-35 Lightning II Center Wing Assembly Production

/PRNewswire/ -- Officials at the Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) facility here formally announced the start of F-35 Lightning II center wing production operations at the plant during a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday.

Actual center wing assembly work for the multi-role 5th generation aircraft will begin July 30 in the Marietta site's massive B-1 aircraft production building. The F-35 work area will occupy more than 320,000 square feet, and the assembly activity is projected to employ more than 600 workers by 2016 as the program ramps up to full-rate production of one aircraft per workday.

The F-35 is a true international program with eight countries partnering with the U.S. to develop and produce the aircraft. Final assembly of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter takes place at the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Establishing the program's center wing assembly operation in Marietta helps alleviate capacity constraints at the Fort Worth location while taking advantage of available manufacturing capacity and 5th generation aircraft production expertise the Marietta site offers.

"This is a very proud day for us in Marietta as we begin to support production of the largest military aircraft acquisition program in history," said Lee Rhyant, executive vice president and general manager of the Lockheed Martin Marietta site. "We have state-of-the-art facilities, and our workers have the skill, the dedication and even the 5th generation fighter expertise to build this critical component. We're ready to support the F-35 now and in the future; it's time to get to work."

According to Larry Lawson, executive vice president and general manager of the F-35 program for Lockheed Martin, the Marietta center wing assembly operation will play an important role in meeting customers' needs for an affordable, high-quality product.

"Marietta's available facilities, tooling and worker experience with the F-22 are key enablers for F-35 program production," said Lawson. "The operations here will help us realize greater efficiencies, deliver quality and meet F-35 production rates."

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment and lower operational and support costs. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. For more information on the F-35 program, visit http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/f35/.

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Gulfstream Introduces the New Gulfstream G250

PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gulfstream Aerospace, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) , today (October 5, 2008) announced the introduction of its newest super mid-size business jet: the Gulfstream G250.

The G250 offers the largest cabin and the longest range at the fastest speed in its class. The G250 is capable of traveling 3,400 nautical miles at 0.80 Mach and has a maximum operating speed of 0.85 Mach. With an initial cruise altitude of 41,000 feet, the G250 can climb to a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet, where it can avoid air-traffic congestion and adverse weather.

"I'm delighted to announce the newest aircraft in the Gulfstream line," said Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream. "Our customers played a definitive role in designing this business jet by participating in our Advanced Technology Customer Advisory Team. As a result, we are confident they'll appreciate the G250's state-of-the-art technology, superior performance and enhanced styling."

Gulfstream projects the G250 will be certified in 2011 and expects to begin customer deliveries of the new aircraft the same year. The first flight of the aircraft is scheduled for the second half of 2009.

"I am very proud of the advanced technology our team has incorporated into the G250. It gives this new member of the Gulfstream family increased speed and range. The all-new, advanced Gulfstream wing, the best-in-class Honeywell engines, and the PlaneView 250 cockpit from Rockwell Collins make the G250 the best-in-class aircraft," said Pres Henne, senior vice president, Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream . "I do want to give credit to Dan Nale, vice president, Mid-Cabin Programs, and Mark Kohler, G250 program manager at Gulfstream, for all their efforts in bringing this program forward on schedule. Their team's work has resulted in the G250 leading the super mid- size category. I am equally proud of our partner G250 team at Israel Aerospace Industries for the detailed design and manufacturing of this new aircraft."

Performance

The G250 is powered by twin Honeywell HTF7250G engines, each of which provides 7,445 pounds of thrust. These fuel-efficient engines feature reduced emissions, longer maintenance intervals and decreased noise levels. They also offer excellent climb performance, propelling the G250 to FL410 in less than 20 minutes.

The G250 also has an all-new, advanced transonic wing design that has been optimized for high-speed cruise and improved takeoff performance. At maximum takeoff weight, the G250 can take off from a 5,000-foot runway. Its 3,400- nautical-mile range means the G250 can fly nonstop from New York to London or from London to Dubai.

Improved Cabin Comfort

Convenience and comfort are the hallmarks of the G250 cabin. The aircraft has the largest cabin in its class, with 17 percent to 35 percent more floor area than any other super mid-size business jet. This additional space provides for a larger lavatory, an improved galley and increased storage.

The lavatory features two large windows, a contemporary sink with a raised ledge, and a vacuum toilet system. The G250 is the only super mid-size business jet with this system, a standard feature on larger business aircraft. This system is easier to access, service and maintain.

The ergonomically designed G250 galley features an extra-large ice drawer with gasper-cooled storage, a sink with a slide-out work surface, and increased storage capabilities. In addition to the galley, the G250 offers storage in a forward cabin closet, the lavatory closet and the divan end cabinets. The aircraft also provides in-flight access to 120 cubic feet of usable volume in the baggage compartment.

Nineteen windows allow natural light to illuminate the cabin's interior. This reduces jet lag and enhances cabin ambiance. The cabin environment is further improved by 100 percent fresh air and a cabin altitude of 7,000 feet at FL450. Industry-leading sound levels mean the G250 cabin provides a more comfortable environment for conversation or relaxing.

The G250 adheres to Gulfstream's Cabin-Essential(R) design philosophy, which means all of its major cabin systems have been designed with redundancy so a single-point failure will not result in the loss of cabin functionality. That means cabin lighting always illuminates; water is always available; and an entertainment source always works.

The PlaneView(R) 250 Cockpit

The G250 is equipped with the most advanced flight deck in its class: the PlaneView 250 featuring Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics. This flight deck features three high-resolution, 15-inch diagonal Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) that are capable of showing multiple formats, including a navigation map with terrain; approach and airport charts; graphical flight planning, and optional synthetic and enhanced vision.

The cockpit also includes two new Standby Multi-function Controllers (SMCs). Installed in the glare shield, these first-of-their-kind SMCs incorporate a variety of features, including Standby Instrument, Electronic Flight Information System (EFIS) Display Control, and Remote Information Display on a 5.3-inch LCD.

Working in concert, these elements provide flight crews with enhanced situational awareness and improved safety.

The cockpit also offers dual Flight Management Systems (FMSs), dual Gulfstream signature Cursor Control Devices (CCDs), universal worldwide graphical weather, automatic Emergency Descent Mode, MultiScan(TM) weather radar and a dual auto-throttle system.

Optional features further enhance the capabilities of PlaneView 250. These include the Rockwell Collins HGS-6250 Head-Up Display (HUD II), Gulfstream Enhanced Vision (EVS II) and Gulfstream Synthetic Vision - Primary Flight Display (SV-PFD). A Head-up Guidance System (HGS) designed by Rockwell Collins, HUD II features an all-digital LCD that combines critical flight guidance information with the infrared image from EVS II and presents it in the pilot's forward field of view. This combination of HUD II and EVS II improves touchdown precision, thereby allowing G250 pilots to proceed from Decision Height to a 100-foot altitude when using EVS for low-visibility approaches.

Gulfstream SV-PFD improves situational awareness and safety by generating a synthesized, three-dimensional image of the world outside the cockpit. It integrates data from the Rockwell Collins onboard terrain database with the aircraft's position, altitude and heading to create a synthesized picture that is projected in a perspective view on the Primary Flight Displays. This optional PlaneView 250 feature allows pilots to view major landmarks throughout the world and the aircraft's position relative to them, thereby improving terrain and obstacle awareness.

Additional options for the PlaneView 250 cockpit include predictive wind shear for weather radar, XM graphical weather, paperless cockpit, en route charts and an intercontinental package with enhanced capability and redundancy for oceanic and remote-area operations.

Reliable Systems

The G250 is the only aircraft in its class with auto braking, which provides improved safety while reducing pilot workload. Additionally, the G250 brake-by-wire system features individual antiskid, completely independent mechanical backup and a brake temperature monitoring system.

The G250's advanced flight control system consists of a fly-by-wire multifunction spoiler system, fly-by-wire rudder control, hydro-mechanical elevator control and manually operated ailerons.

The G250 Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) minimizes surge-control valve operation, making the APU quieter to use. A new starter generator improves reliability on the ground or in-flight, where it can be used at altitudes up to 40,000 feet.

The G250 fuel system stores 14,600 pounds of fuel and has an improved refueling sequence that requires less than 20 minutes for fill-ups.

Manufacturing

Initial phase manufacturing for the G250 will be at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) near the Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel. IAI currently builds two other Gulfstream aircraft: the G150 and the G200. Final phase manufacturing for the G250 will take place at the Gulfstream Center of Excellence completion facility for mid-cabin aircraft in Dallas. Gulfstream maintains a fully staffed office at IAI to oversee initial manufacturing. The G250 Program office is located in Savannah, Ga.

"The G250 offers an unrivaled combination of characteristics that will ensure its success in the business-aviation industry," Lombardo said. "We've made a proven product even better by boosting its range, reducing its runway requirements, bolstering its cabin size, increasing its storage and equipping it with state-of-the-art technology.

"I am excited Gulfstream is able to offer this new aircraft to our customers. And, as with all Gulfstream aircraft, the G250 is backed by Gulfstream's award-winning product-support network," he concluded.

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