The BUILDING THE DREAMLINER section of this page has four articles on the 787 program.
Posted on 08/21/2006 11:19:34 AM PDT by skeptoid
Boeing [NYSE: BA] has rolled the first 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF) out of the hangar at Taipei's Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport. The enormous airplane is the first of three specially modified jets that will be used to transport major assemblies for the all-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
"This is one of the most unusual modifications Boeing has ever done," said Scott Strode, 787 vice president of Airplane Development and Production. "We've relied on the world's best talent to design and build the LCF and we can all be proud today to see it standing on the tarmac."
Ground testing is under way to prepare the LCF for its first flight. After initial flight testing in Taipei, the LCF will fly to Seattle to complete the flight test program. First flight and the ferry flight to Seattle are expected to occur by the end of August.
The modifications have been performed by Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp. (EGAT), a joint venture of EVA Air and General Electric and a part of Taiwan's Evergreen Group. The second airplane continues to be modified and will be completed this fall. The third airplane will begin modification next year. The first two LCFs enter service in 2007 to support the final assembly of the first Dreamliners.
Is it my monitor? It doesn't show primer green on my screen. (no rhyme intended)
They need to add a couple little windows at the top of the hump and call it the Vista Cruiser.
Do you think Boeing might consider chartering those planes for special payloads? I'd think it would be really useful for transporting satellites, and other large spacecraft to launch sites.
Good idea, but not sure that Boeing can charter planes, can they? Remember how Bill Boeing had to get out of the air transport business?
I wonder who/what transports satellites and other large spacecraft now?
It wouldn't be too comfortable back there. It's unpressurized; so unless you had a pressure suit you could wear with enough oxygen supply for an entire flight, you'd die. Even if you had the pressure suit, there are't any lavoratories in the rear of the LCF, and there's door to the pressurized forward section of the plane. I don't think it would be too much fun to be back there for an entire flight from Italy to South Carolina.
Yes, I know all about the antitrust case against Boeing that split up United Airlines, Pratt and Whitney, and Boeing. The LCF is something that probably has very little demand outside of Boeing's internal use. It would make no sense not to let them be chartered based on antitust reasons. Airbus charters out some of its Belugas for special missions and even military cargoes. Anyway Boeing won't be operating the LCF's themselves. Evergreen Airlines will operate the planes flying to and from Asia, and Cargolux will operate the legs to and from Europe.
In the US, mostly the C-5C. In Europe the Airbus Belugas.
Interesting.
The BUILDING THE DREAMLINER section of this page has four articles on the 787 program.
Boeing is going to get 4 or 5 of them.
Um... Taiwan? Italy? Japan? Which of these regards us as "the Main Enemy?"
Pretty ignorant aren't you? Guess you don't know who makes the Tail section and Stabilizers.
Looks like the "tail section" is built in Charleston, South Carolina; Foggia, Italy; and Western Washington State .....which is the "Main Enemy"?
I confess: I AM totally ignorant.
Looks like it is in an iron lung.
The 12th Imam signed on?
( No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)
I think he plays for Texas A&M.
Wrong.
Actual fabrications of Tail subcomponentry is China. Assembly occurs in Seattle.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.