Posted on 01/12/2007 6:32:17 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
EVERETT, Wash., Jan. 12, 2007 -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) is showing steady progress toward building the first 787 Dreamliner with the rollout of its second specially-modified freighter and a successful first pickup of 787 parts from Japan.
The load consists of section 43, a forward fuselage section made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and section 11/45, the center wheel well and center wing tank, made by KHI and Fuji Heavy Industries and joined at FHI. These were loaded onto the 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter -- now known as the Dreamlifter -- earlier today at Centrair Airport in Nagoya. The large composite parts are destined for Charleston, S.C.
"Today is an exciting day for Boeing and our Japanese partners," said Scott Strode, 787 vice president of Airplane Development and Production. "Transporting these parts from FHI and KHI is the first step in assembling the first 787. We're very pleased with how it went and with the quality of the parts received."
In another sign of production readiness, the second Dreamlifter rolled out of the hangar Jan. 7 in Taipei, Taiwan, sporting its distinctive new white and blue livery. The airplane will take its first flight in the next several weeks.
Three Dreamlifters are being modified by Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation at its facility at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
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AWESOME!
Whoa! I'm sitting in Taipei right now and working out tonight. I'll be looking for the dreamlifter on taxi out.
Are you $h!++!ng me?
Why on earth would they source parts in Japan and build an aircraft just to ferry the parts? Have we lost so much of our manufacturing base that we couldn't produce these components domestically?
There's only room in the worldwide market for two manufacturers of wide bodied aircraft. If Boeing doesn't send work to Japan and other foreign countries, Airbus will. Then when it comes time to sell planes who would the Japanese buy from Boeing or Airbus? The era of planes being the product of one country ended decades ago. Boeing has been outsourcing major structural components to Japanese companies since the start of the 747 program over 40 years ago.
follow the money...
Cute little guy. Nice paint job. I like the name: Dream Lifter.
Where've you been? The name of the game is large scale system integration.
How many airbust planes does JAL fly? Answer = 0
King of the Art Deco airways!
Great pic. Nice to see the pieces starting to come together.
I believe McDonnell-Douglas had a like program. My BIL worked at Long Beach, and I think I remember him saying they would fly the plane to Japan just to do the interior and then fly it back. Old memories aren't what they should be, but, I think he said MD-80 or 11.
:O)
P
I remember when they used to build planes in Everett and Renton.
Exactly.
Our company Moog, is international and produces components for both Boeing and Airbus.
That's because JAL knows who builds them better.
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