Spirit builds 100th Boeing 787 fuselage section

Spirit AeroSystems has completed its 100th fuselage section for Boeing Co.'s 787, the company said Tuesday.

Spirit makes the forward fuselage sections at its Wichita, Kan., location. The section will be shipped in early 2013 to Boeing's 787 site in North Charleston. S.C. Spirit also builds the pylon and wing leading edge.

In a statement Tuesday, Terry George, Spirit vice president of the 787 program, thanked employees, saying that many had been on the program since its 2003 beginnings.

"Throughout the years we have faced many challenges but continue to refine the airplane configuration, enhance our production system, and methodically step up the production rate over the past few years," George said.

In October, Spirit announced it was taking a $184 million charge relating to the 787 program.

Boeing, which assembles 787s in Everett and North Charleston, plans to increase production to a pace of 10 787s monthly by the end of 2013. Through the end of November, Boeing had delivered a total of 38 Dreamliners, including three handed over last year.