Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. Wins Contract to Build Major Composite Structure for CH-53K Heavy-Lift Helicopter

Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. Wins Contract to Build Major Composite Structure for CH-53K Heavy-Lift Helicopter

May 10, 2007

    WICHITA, Kan., May 10 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Spirit
AeroSystems, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) won a 7 year contract from
Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., worth in excess of $150 million,
to supply major structural components for the CH-53K heavy
lift helicopter for the United States Marine Corps.  Under
the Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase of
the contract, Spirit will design, produce and join the
helicopter's composite cockpit and cabin.  Sikorsky is a
subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) 

    "We have more than 75 years of experience
designing and building fuselages and cockpits for some of
the best-selling commercial airplanes of all time.  We are
extremely excited to be able to build on that expertise to
produce the cockpit and cabin for the CH-53K," said
Richard "Buck" Buchanan, Vice President --
General Manager of Spirit's Fuselage Structures and Systems
business unit.

    The CH-53K is being developed to meet the future
requirements for the U.S. Marine Corps heavy lift
capabilities, currently carried out by a fleet of CH-53E
SUPER STALLION(TM)  helicopters.  Sikorsky announced that
the SDD contract could lead to the production of 156 CH-53K
aircraft to replace roughly an equal number of CH-53E SUPER
STALLION(TM) helicopters.  Spirit won the contract through
a competitive bid process.  

    Spirit will begin work on the SDD phase of the program
in 2007.  Under the contract, Spirit will design and
produce seven test articles, four of which will undergo
flight testing.  The cockpit and cabin work will be
performed at Spirit's Wichita, Kan. facility.

    About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.

    Based in Wichita, Kan., Spirit AeroSystems is the
world's largest independent supplier of large component
parts and assemblies for commercial aircraft.  Spirit
designs and builds the all-composite forward fuselage for
the Boeing 787, in addition to pylon and wing structures
for the new airplane. Spirit produces the fuselage, engine
pylons and nacelles, vertical fin and horizontal
stabilizer, inboard and outboard flaps, and front and rear
wing spars for Boeing's Next-Generation 737 family of
airplanes.  It also builds nose sections, nacelles and
pylons for the 747, 767 and 777 aircraft, as well as slats
and floor beams for the 777, and wing and fuselage
components for the 747.

    Spirit's facilities in the United Kingdom produce wing
components for the Boeing 767 and 777, and the Hawker
800XP.  Additionally, its European operation provides
structural components, chiefly on wings, for the Airbus
A320, A330, A340 and A380 families of aircraft. 

    About Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.

    Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is a world leader in helicopter
design, manufacturing and service.  United Technologies
Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of
high technology products and support services to the
aerospace and building systems industries.

    This press release contains forward-looking statements
concerning future business opportunities.  Actual results
my vary materially from those projected as a result of
certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited
to changes in government procurement practices or in the
number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design,
development, production and support of advanced
technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties,
including but no limited to those detailed in Spirit
AeroSystems Holdings, Inc Securities and Exchange
Commission filings.

    On the web: http://www.spiritaero.com 



    For more information, please contact:

     Sam Marnick, 
     Corporate Communications,
     Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.
     Tel:   [phone]