GKN Aerospace was selected to supply wing skins for Gulfstream’s new G500 and G600 business jets. GKN will produce the upper and lower wing skins from its machined structures plant in Wellington, Kan. The facility provides wing skins and control surfaces for commercial, general aviation and defense platforms. GKN estimates that the Wellington plant has produced more than 5,000 wing skins, including for Gulfstream’s G550.

The G550 wing is produced by Triumph, along with the wing for the G450 and more recently the G650 and G280. But Gulfstream has decided to move wing assembly in-house for its new G500 and G600 models. GKN will produce the 500/600 wing upper skins without fasteners and joints to reduce weight and maintenance, the company said. Lower skins will involve several panels and complex design features.

Triumph is supplying wing structural components. Other suppliers for the G500 and 600 include GE Aerospace, Esterline, PPG Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney Canada. Powered by the PW800, the models will incorporate the Symmetry flight deck with active-control sidesticks and touchscreen avionics. The G500, which rolled out in the fall, is expected to fly shortly and enter service in 2018. The 600 would follow a year later.