A north-east engineering firm has captured itself a slice of aviation history after it helped put together the new Airbus A380, launched today.

Stockton-based Harkers was among 400 companies across the UK involved in the massive civil aviation project.

AS&T, of Newcastle, also worked on the 46-metre wing plane, due to become the biggest commercial carrier in the world.

Harkers, which supplied a wing component linked to the plane's landing gear, said it was "hugely exciting" to be involved with the project.

Managing director Peter Harker said: "In aviation terms, this is the biggest bird in the sky so it's very exciting from an engineering point of view for us to have been part of its construction."

The A380 has been fitted with a Rolls-Royce engine and will have its maiden flight in spring this year.

There are already 150 orders for the plane and another 70 in the pipeline.

Mr Harker said he was hopeful the company would be involved with the new orders.

Harkers employs 135 staff, including about 30 in its aviation division, from its base in Church Road, Stockton.

The airbus project accounts for about ten per cent of its current output.

Across the UK, the airbus project has helped to secure 22,000 jobs with more than £500m of government investment.

Industry Minister Jacqui Smith said: "The workers in the North-East firms that have put this together are rightly proud of their achievement.

"They are clear evidence that UK modern high-tech manufacturing is still a world beater.

"The Airbus A380 is a visionary project and I'm proud of the role that the North-East has played in its development."

Rolls-Royce's Trent 900 is the largest aeroengine Airbus has ever built and the A380 is the only commercial plane designed to minimise the impact on the environment.

It can carry 35 per cent more passengers per flight than the current largest airliner, with a significantly reduced environmental impact.

It has 13 per cent less fuel burn than its closest competitor and consumes less than three litres of fuel per passenger over 100 kilometres - a fuel burn comparable to a modern diesel car.