Boeing”s Everett plant, 30mi (48km) north of Seattle, Washington State, has delivered its 3,000th aircraft, a 777-200ER (Extended Range) model to Korean Air.
Originally called Paine Field, the site was acquired by Boeing in 1966 with the assembly hall ” the world”s largest enclosed building ” constructed a year later. The first Everett aircraft was a Boeing 747-100 for Pan American World Airways in 1969.
The 3,000th-delivery milestone comes just nine years after Everett celebrated its 2,000th delivery ” a 747-400 taken by British Airways on 15 May, 1998. The plant's 1,000th widebody delivery was a 767-300ER to Scandinavian Airlines on 14 August 1989.
To date Everett has delivered 1,388 Boeing 747s, 954 767s and 655 777s. The plant is also home to Boeing”s new 787, due for its first flight in the coming months.
The 3,000th aircraft joins the 123-strong Korean Air fleet, which includes 13 777-200ERs, four 777-300s, 24 747-400s and 21 747-400 Freighters. Korean Air plans to use the new 777 for long haul business routes to the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.
"This Korean Air 777 exemplifies the accomplishments that have taken place at this factory during the past 40 years," said vice-president and general manager 747/767/777 programmes and Everett site, Ross R. Bogue.
The 3,000 widebody aircraft assembled at Everett have established a strong track record. Combined, the 747, 767 and 777s have completed more than 34.5m flights and have logged approximately 148m flight hours or nearly 17,000 years of flight time. The aircraft have flown approximately 71bn nautical miles (131bn km), which is the equivalent of flying around the world 3.3m times.