Posted on 09/16/2006 8:38:28 PM PDT by skeptoid
SEATTLE, Sept. 16, 2006 -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today celebrated the arrival of the first of three specially modified 747-400 passenger jets that will be used to transport the large composite sections and wings of the all-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF) touched down at Seattle's Boeing Field at 8:08 a.m. PDT, ending a non-stop, 13-hour, 17-minute flight from Taipei, Taiwan.
The LCF's arrival in Seattle signals a new phase of the airplane's flight test program, which began when the airplane made its first flight in Taipei on Sept. 9, 2006. Since then, the LCF successfully completed two additional flights, which demonstrated its airworthiness and ability to complete the ferry flight to Seattle.
"It was a beautiful flight," said Capt. Joe MacDonald, 747 chief pilot. "The LCF is such an important part of Boeing's business going forward."
The LCF is a key element of the lean, global production system that is critical to the 787's success. Flying the large components reduces shipping time to as little as one day from as many as 30. The fleet of three airplanes is being modified by Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp. (EGAT) in Taipei.
The most significant change to the airplane is the new extended upper fuselage, which boosts the cargo capacity by volume to 65,000 cubic feet, more than three times the cargo capacity of a standard 747-400 freighter.
"This is one of the key milestones for the 787 program this year," said Scott Strode, 787 vice president of Airplane Development and Production. "Many people said creating the LCF couldn't be done, and others said it was possible, but not on such an aggressive schedule. The LCF's arrival today comes less than 14 months after it entered the factory for modification. It's a testament to the talent and dedication of our Boeing/EGAT team."
The LCF's flight test program is expected to last through the end of the year.
A fleet of three LCFs will ferry 787 assemblies between Nagoya, Japan, Grottaglie, Italy; Wichita, Kan. and Charleston, S.C., before flying them to the Boeing factory in Everett, Wash., for final assembly. The first two LCFs will enter service in early 2007; the third will follow later.
Since the 787 launch in April 2004, 32 customers have logged 420 orders and commitments, of which 377 are firm orders valued at $59 billion at current list prices, making the Dreamliner the most successful commercial airplane launch in history.
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I'm not too crazy about the 787 being built all over the place. I'd like to keep one of the few remaining all American made mfg businesses here in the states.
I beleive in the global economy, but this worries me.
747 Vista Cruiser.
Just add two little windows at the top of the hump and some woodgrain paneling.
Boeing has been partnering with foreign companies long before the 787. It become commonplace with the 757/767 program and I know to a limited extent before that.
Did you see the video? It's got all the grace of the mighty 747.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/collections/video/2003257140_boeing/2003257141_largecargo.html
Even at the expense of lost sales in foreign markets? There is only room in the market for two manufacturers of wide bodied civilian transports, and most of the market is outside the US. If Boeing only had components built in the US, Airbus would use that as an opportunity to make inroads against Boeing by sending work to countries whose airlines buy Airbus planes.
I prefer "The Flying Corndog".
Prior to the development of the LCF, Boeing contracted with Volga-Dnieper to move heavy parts in their An-124s (?).They would park it on our ramp next to the Boeing Hangar at STL. It had a crew of 6. It used nearly all of the long runway at STL..
We see the AN-124 at IAH all the time. It is used to move oil drilling equipment.
I noticed the nose still has windows. Is Boeing going to use the passenger compartment to shuttle executives between production sites?
Volkswagen used them to move factory equipment to Mexico City, as well. That thing is a monster, but pales in comparison to the AN-225. I dont think that one is in service, though..
There is a single AN-225 in service right now.
Hey, I'm going to STL next week, maybe I'll see you there. :)
I wish Dick Cheney hadn't ordered the destruction of C-5 tooling after the last C-5B's were built when he was Secretary of Defense. I'm sure a stretched variant with GE CF6-80 engines rated at full power could easiliy do the jobs the AN-124's and AN-225 are doing today.
I read that the Russians and Ukrainians are planning to assemble the parts for a second AN-225 that were built but are being stored and put the AN-124 back into serial production.
And I'm off to bed. Good night everyone. :-)
I guest this giant was in disrepair after the Russian space program cut their version of the Shuttle. The 'HeavyLift' company (a British/Russian co-venture) bought it, updated the avionics, and now the AN-225 hauls things too big and heavy for most cargo craft to take.
Here's a picture: http://www.airventure.de/historypics/An-225.jpg
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