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Boeing 787 LEGO-like Building Begins, Kicks Airbus Nuts
Posted by at 9:15 PM on May 22, 2007
Boeing has started building their new flagship: the 787 Dreamliner. The cool thing about the 787 is that it only requires them to put together six big composite parts to build the final airframe and operators don't have to use huge tools and overhead cranes: all the parts can be slid along on the construction floor and put together like giant LEGO pieces. Check the gallery for pictures of the delivery and assembly of the sections and hit the jump for more details.
The six huge finished parts, the forward, centre and aft fuselage sections, the wings, the horizontal stabiliser and the vertical fin, are going to be carried in their huge Dreamlifter from factories in Japan, Italy, South Carolina and Kansas. The Boeing Dreamlifter, as you can see in the gallery, is one of the largest cargo planes in the world.
According to Boeing, they will complete their first 787 in July 8, 2007 while everyone at Airbus are still scratching their heads wondering what the heck happened with their ill-fated and permanently delayed world's largest flying gadget. The 787 is the "fastest-selling aeroplane in aviation history," and even while I'm european, I'm happy to see it rolling out the factory for two reasons: one, because I like great aeroplanes and two, because those eurocrats at Airbus needed a kick up the butt.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
Brian
Posted April 13, 2008 4:07 PM
"ill-fated and permanently delayed world's largest flying gadget"
Huh??
Oh right - you're referring to the A380 which has sold 192, compared to the ill-fated Boeing 747-8 which has sold..... ummmm.... 10.
As for the Lego-like 787. Since it's been delayed for the 4th time, it seems like it's the same old Lego story - you spend ages on that fantastic design, only to discover the bits you need are missing.
Matt
Posted April 13, 2008 5:12 PM
Ha!
Hugh Jampton
Posted April 13, 2008 6:34 PM
What idiot wrote that load of tripe? If he was paid for doing it, then you ought to ask for your money back.
muller
Posted April 13, 2008 7:35 PM
poor asshole
ameliatan
Posted April 13, 2008 8:50 PM
"It's not just that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner may be unsafe or vulnerable to hacker attacks. At this point, it seems everyone would be happy for it to arrive in any state. The 787's carbon-fiber construction and next-generation technology have pushed back their delivery schedule once again, this time requiring a redesign of the plane's wingbox. Airlines will have to wait 18 more months to get it delivered, which is an extremely serious blow to the credibility of the company and their financial standing, as they would have to pay penalties to the buyers of more than 850 of these planes. And we thought Airbus had problems."
Bruce
Posted April 14, 2008 1:37 AM
Ladies and gentlemen, this post defines what it means to have egg on your face
dru
Posted April 14, 2008 2:44 AM
Please, before writing do careful fact checks, airbus has been building jets in this modular way almost since the beginning. They took it to another level with the A380, building large nearly finished sections at different locations and quickly assembling them in one location. The trick is to reduce the number of suppliers & try to deliver even more complete sections. Boeing is trying and failing with their production problems, airbus would do well to learn from this.
jay
Posted April 14, 2008 2:25 PM
the airlines that have ordered the dreamliner,which is still just a dream ,at this stage, should crucify boeing for the delays. i seriously doubt if they will meet their latest target.compensation for delays,at even 2 million useless us dollars per plane,per year equates to 2.5 billion us-eless dollars ! anybody holding boeing stock should dump it,quickly.the 747 is dead,they have lost the tanker deal,although they are throwing the dummy out of the cot and now this.
harris
Posted April 14, 2008 8:13 PM
We should rename this the "day-dreamliner"
Maurice Greene
Posted April 15, 2008 11:50 PM
Jesus Diaz,
I think this might be the last time you get asked to write an article mate. Try reading some recent news and you'll see its Airbus on the ascendancy and Boeing are flapping with the 787
LP
Posted April 16, 2008 3:30 AM
"According to Boeing, they will complete their first 787 in July 8, 2007" this must be a typo...
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