Super-Super-Jumbo Shows It Can Do The Job

Boeing alerted ANN this week to the successful delivery of the first major assemblies for the upcoming 787 Dreamliner to its partner Global Aeronautica in Charleston, SC -- completing the first-ever delivery cycle using the modified 747-400LCF, also known as the Dreamlifter.

"The Dreamlifter proved beyond a doubt that it is the right transportation solution for the lean, global production system we are using to build the 787," said Scott Strode, vice president of Airplane Development and Production for the 787 program. "We can now do in hours what used to take weeks. This is good news for us, our partners and ultimately, our airline customers."

The load consisted 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.

As Aero-News reported this weekend, the megasized Dreamlifter and its megapriced cargo left Nagoya, Japan, on Friday. It successfully performed some required flight testing in Seattle over the weekend, and headed to Charleston late Sunday. The parts were unloaded earlier this week.

"The arrival of our first 787 shipment from Japan is an important milestone," said Randy Smith, chief operating officer of Global Aeronautica, LLC. "Our employees are ready to start work on the first Dreamliner and are honored to be a part of Boeing's worldwide team that's delivering on its promise to bring the most technologically advanced aircraft to customers in 2008."

The 787 is due to begin flight testing later this year. Global Aeronautica is a joint venture between Alenia North America and Vought Aircraft, formed to support the Boeing 787 Dreamliner program.

(Photo courtesy of Global Aeronautica)

FMI: www.boeing.com