Spirit Aerosystems, Inc.

Dwight D Spaulding

Blaise Francis Bergmann

John Patrick McPherson

A method and part forming apparatus configured for forming an aircraft stringer. The part forming apparatus may comprise a forming tool, a rigid plate, and a hollow bladder. The forming tool may comprise a material trough, a bladder extension trough laterally aligned with and open to the material trough, and a recessed pocket extending from either side of the bladder extension trough and adjacent to the material trough. The method comprises placing composite material into the material trough, placing the bladder onto the composite material and through the bladder extension trough, placing the rigid plate into the recessed pocket and over the bladder, and then placing skin laminate over the bladder and the composite material. Once each of these components is in place, the forming tool may be vacuum bagged and the composite material and skin laminate may be co-cured to form the stringer.

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Rose Hill, KS, United States of America

Dwight D Spaulding