Japanese industrial giant Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd said yesterday it has produced its first part for Boeing's 787 "Dreamliner," the next-generation jet set to take to the sky next year.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said in a statement it completed its first, 30m long "wing box," the part which keeps wings attached, which will be flown to a Boeing plant in the US state of Washington for assembly.
Japanese companies are loyal customers of Boeing Co, which in turn has contracted Japanese heavy industrial firms to 35 percent of the construction of the next-generation, fuel-efficient jet.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries said it was making wing boxes in central Aichi Prefecture out of an innovative composite material combining carbon fiber and reinforced plastic, which assists the plane's fuel efficiency.
Boeing has a full order book for the Dreamliner, enabling it to overtake European rival Airbus as the world's biggest aircraft maker.
Boeing plans to unveil the Dreamliner on July 8 with initial delivery on track for next May.
The Japanese participation in the Dreamliner project had led to allegations by the EU that Japan was indirectly subsidizing it.
Airbus has been in crisis because of delays in its major project to build the superjumbo A380.
Japanese companies Fuji Heavy Industries and Kawasaki Heavy Industries are also part of the deal signed in 2005 with Boeing.
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