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The 'pregnant plane' that can give birth to a new 787
In Seattle, the world's biggest building - 100 acres under one roof - is used to piece together sections of plane from different parts of the world, such as Japan, the UK and Italy. But to transport aircraft wings, nose cones and tailfins to the US, specially adapted 747s have been designed. They are just big enough to hold the aircraft parts - a hi-tech version of a ship in a bottle. UK viewers can see Dallas Campbell's full report in the second episode of Supersized Earth. The series… (www.bbc.co.uk) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
and I work in Grottaglie, Italy...where they make the central part of the fuselage...its always so amazing to see this plane and to be on it alamost every week........yes..its like a mopther who delivers a child 787 every week....... so proud to be part of this......
Wow that's awesome!
totally awesome set-up
Everytime that the "geniuses" at Boing look at this ugly 747 on steorids must kick themselves good for their decision to outsource the manufacturing of wings, fuselage, tail, etc. for the 787 in various countries like Japan, Korea, Italy, UK and maybe others was one huge (but not the only one) reason for the 3 year delay in deliverying them to clients causing a severe drain to Boeing finances (reportedly betwen 5 and 10 billion).
It's called competing with Airbus..."genius".
amazing....I saw one of these dreamlifters sitting outside of the plant in Charleston last year....Seeing that they use these planes to ship so basically one section at a time I just don't understand why they just didn't put it all under one roof since the price of fuel fluctuates so much...However I am sure they know what they are doing and there is a method to their madness.
One major reason for outsourcing? Political pressure, basically. The government is under pressure form foreign interests to "share the wealth", so the State Department caves to them and puts pressure on companies like Boeing to have the work doen in other countries. Yeah, the labor is cheaper "over there", but there are other issues. Economically it really doesn't make very good sense, what with all the difficulties of language differences, insuring commonality of components, transportation costs and foreign taxes and import/export duties, etc.
Building a major aircraft isn't like building cars, as most of the work is done by hand, with little automation involved. Politians don't realize this, though: they think it's not really different from GM or Ford having engines, transmissions, or even complete cars built in other countries.
Building a major aircraft isn't like building cars, as most of the work is done by hand, with little automation involved. Politians don't realize this, though: they think it's not really different from GM or Ford having engines, transmissions, or even complete cars built in other countries.
a) Money,i.e., less labor cost, and
b) higher skill levels in certain area foe certain part.
IMHO.
b) higher skill levels in certain area foe certain part.
IMHO.