Boeing resumes production of the 787 Dreamliner
31 Jan 2009
Everett, Washington: The fuselage and wings of the fifth 787 Dreamliner, the long-delayed project, were joined by workers on Thursday. The aircraft, along with five other 787s, will be pressed into service as a test aircraft.
The 787 Dreamliner, one of the strongest selling aircraft in the history of commercial aviation, has been built for fuel efficiency with carbon composite parts. Its production schedule, however, is already delayed by two years.
Jack Jones, vice president of 787 Final Assembly and Change Incorporation, said that the completion of the aircraft's airframe sent a signal that Boeing had returned to a "steady production rhythm."
The company's machinists went on a two-month strike in September, paralyzing the company's commercial aircraft production lines.
In all, reports suggest, thirty 787s are in production at the moment. Boeing has run up a staggering order for 895 of the planes from 58 airlines.
