Tokyo, April 22, 2009 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) completed production of its 3,000th inboard flap set for the Boeing Next-Generation 737, Boeing's single-aisle twin-jet engine airplane family. As delivery of the first flap for the Next-Generation 737 took place in 1996, MHI has achieved this milestone in a span of 13 years. To commemorate the event, MHI held a ceremony at the Tobishima Plant of its Nagoya Aerospace Systems Works in Aichi Prefecture.

Flaps are hinged surfaces on the trailing edge of an airplane's wings that serve to enhance the aircraft's lift force. The increased lift generated by the flaps provides complementary lift at slow speeds during takeoff and landing and allows the aircraft to obtain sufficient lift to prevent stalling.