Boeing's 787 programme has taken a major step forward with the delivery, by air, of two fuselage sections from the Alenia Aeronautica plant, Grottaglie (Italy) to Charleston, South Carolina (USA).
Lift was provided by a Boeing Dreamlifter freighter, a modified cargo version of the 747. Once at Charleston various items will be added and the sections then delivered by rail to the Boeing Everett plant in Seattle. Alenia Aeronautica accounts for 14% of the aircraft structure.
This delivery is the culmination of a process that began in 2004 with Alenia Aeronautica acting as independent prime partner of the programme.
Working as part of a global team, Alenia Aeronautica has financed, designed, developed and produced the structural aircraft components on contract. The production of a one-piece, carbon fibre barrel has required technologies and processes that are being used in the aeronautical field for the first time ever.
Without doubt the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the most successful launch of an aircraft programme in commercial aviation history, with the order book creeping up to the 500 mark. Rollout of the first aircraft is due in July this year, with the first flight in October. Lead customer ANA expects to take initial delivery mid-summer 2008.