C-17 REACHES MILESTONE 100TH PLANE ASSEMBLED AS NORTHROP CELEBRATES.

Byline: Felix Sanchez Staff Writer

WOODLAND HILLS - The last in a series of Southern California supplier celebrations for work done on airframe and internal parts for the Boeing Co.'s historic 100th C-17 was held Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley.

But in an ironic twist, the celebration at Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems came even as the company put the final wrap on transferring all its Southern California C-17 cockpit instruments and warning systems work to a plant in Salt Lake City.

That, and the absence of some Northrop Grumman executives who work with the C-17 but are helping with the move to Utah, didn't put a damper on the mood of the event Tuesday, sponsored by Boeing to show its ongoing appreciation to key suppliers for the work done on parts for the C-17.

``This is a significant milestone for the C-17,'' Mark DeVoss, general manager for supplies and parts management with Boeing's Long Beach C-17 assembly program, told about 100 Northrop Grumman employees gathered for the celebration.

Northrop Grumman manufactures five cockpit avionics ``boxes'' for the C-17, including the key warning annunciation panel box that signals a pilot when there are problems such as overheating or failure by the transport's hydraulic systems or other major components.

It also makes electrical computer display systems, multifunction control panels and mission computer keyboards, all of which are manually replaceable units, said Jim Kennedy, Northrop Grumman director of business management.

Northrop Grumman began its C-17 operations move in late June, executives said. It is part of an overall consolidation of Northrop Grumman Southern Navigation Systems Division operations announced last August that included headquartering overall operations into Woodland Hills.

Northrop acquired Litton Industries Inc. in April 2001, including facilities it eventually closed in Northridge (for relocation to Salt Lake City) and Agoura Hills.

The overall consolidation led to about 500 employee layoffs but the C-17 move impacts only a few jobs, and doesn't affect the existing contract with Boeing Co. for providing the components for the $190 million military transport plane.

There are about 2,000 Northrop Grumman employees in the Los Angeles area.

William Bowes, vice president of Northrop's Military Air Electronic Systems, said the consolidation has helped cut some costs and lower prices for the C-17 components.

``We're proud to be a part of this team. The C-17 is a poster child for more capability and efficiency,'' Bowes said.

Since beginning assembly of its 100th C-17 in November, Boeing executives have traveled to 27 major suppliers around the United States and internationally to commemorate their role in providing parts for the plane.

The final three celebrations are set for suppliers in San Francisco, Cleveland and Illinois. In all, more than 900 suppliers provide the 9 million parts that go into making a C-17.

The 100th plane is scheduled to be completed and delivered to the Air Force by the end of October.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Employees at Northrop Grumman in Woodland Hills sign a banner celebrating the 100th C-17 assembled in Long Beach.

Stephen Carr/Staff Photographer