GKN’s news that the new Advanced Technology Winglet (ATC) for Boeing’s 737MAX will be produced in the Isle of Wight is a significant boost both for the innovation and long term prospects of the UK’s Aerospace industry.
The use of advanced composites in GKN’s production re-affirms the UK’s strength in composite wing manufacture and technology development – adding to the UK’s involvement in Airbus’s A350XWB and Bombardier’s C-Series composite wings manufacture.
Boeing’s video on the 737MAX Winglet shows the background to the development of winglet, the technology involved and the environmental benefits it will bring to its airline operators.
In addition, this announcement has further positioned the UK at the heart of the Single Aisle Market – which has been forecast as the largest growing sector in future aircraft demand. Boeing’s Current Market Outlook for 2013 stated that there would be demand for 24,670 Single Aisle Aircraft by 2032 – taking up 70% of the overall market share of new aircraft deliveries over the next 20 years, which is valued at around $2.2trillion.
