Aircraft

By Darren Shannon in Washington DC

Aernnova, the new name for Spain’s Gamesa Aeronautica, is to help design fuselage and wing sections for Boeing’s 747-8, under a contract scheduled to expire in the middle of 2008.

In a statement, Boeing says about 80 Aernnova engineers will assist the US manufacturer on the 747-8’s primary wing structure and on the forward fuselage section between the aircraft’s wing and nose.

The engineers will be based at Boeing’s facility in Everett, Washington, as well as Aernnova’s bases in Madrid and Vitoria.

“We are delighted to have Aernnova join the 747-8 programme,” says Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ 747-8 chief project engineer Corky Townsend. “The team of Aernnova has been a great partner in past Boeing programmes.

“As Gamesa Aeronautica, the company made key contributions to the 747 Large Cargo Freighter in the swing zone area. In addition, this contract further strengthens our relationships with the Spanish aerospace industry,” he adds.

Aernnova is the first Spanish supplier to support the 747-8 programme, says Boeing.