Magellan Aerospace Corp. of Toronto, the parent company of Aeronca Inc., which operates a manufacturing facility in Middletown, recently received a contract from The Boeing Co. to make engine shrouds for the B-1 bomber.

According to David Pugliese, who writes the Defence Watch blog for The Ottawa Citizen, Magellan reported Friday, Nov. 13, the $3.5 million (U.S.) contract in its 3rd Quarter financial statement that was released on Thursday.

Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems division based in Long Beach, Calif., awarded the contract to build spare engine shrouds for the U.S. Air Force fleet of B-1Bs.

Aeronca Inc., a subsidiary of Magellan Aerospace USA Inc., will produce the lightweight titanium honeycomb engine shroud panels that protect the aft fuselage of the airplane from heat generated by the engines, according to the company.

The contract includes tooling refurbishment or replacement and production hardware and is estimated to generate revenue of $3.5 million U.S.

The B-1B uses three shrouds per engine for a total of 12 panels per aircraft. Magellan Aerospace said the contract will supply the Air Force with critically needed spares in light of the age of the fleet — the first B-1B entered service in June 1985.

Middletown-based Aeronca was the original manufacturer of these panels. The company specializes in the development and manufacture of high heat resistant metal structures for air and space applications, according to the quarterly financial statement.