Gulfstream Wants More from Aerostructures Corp.

Nashville-based Aerostructures Corp. has received a contract extension from Gulfstream for the continued supply of G300/G400 wing boxes for a further 10 years. Potential value is $500 million.

Previous agreements saw Aerostructures building wings for the Gulfstream II, GIII and GIV, with shipset numbers exceeding a combined total of 1,000. The GIV program started in 1983 with Aerostructures responsible for complete design, tooling and production of wings. With this award, the two companies extend a 37-year relationship.

Now known as the G400 following a renaming announced here at the convention, the GIV-SP and its shorter-range G300 derivative continue to enjoy strong demand after 490 deliveries.

Aerostructures Corp.'s total sales exceed $350 million per year, the company providing both design and manufacturing capabilities for aircraft worldwide. It is a major supplier of large aerospace structures and components to the commercial and military aerospace industry, with manufacturing operations in Nashville, Tenn.; Brea, Calif., and Everett, Wash.

In addition to its work for Gulfstream, Aerostructures builds complete wings or wing components for other major aerospace players such as Airbus and Boeing. Military programs include the empennage for Lockheed Martin's C-130 Hercules; ramp and door for Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor; and major elements for the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III strategic transport.

By Paul Jackson