Okay, we all know how 737 and 787 parts are brought in. (By rail and by air) But how does Boeing transport their other widebodies parts? I don't see how a 747 fuselage could be brought into Mukilteo by road!

Every Boeing is delivered on the wings of a Russian plane!

No, I haven't heard about how 747 fuselages (or fuselage parts) were transported, so I assume fuselages were built up there in Seattle.

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/bo ... pulls-out/ says production of 747 fuselage panels was moved to the Boeing plant in Macon, Virginia, in 2015.


David

Just another find: http://www.seattletimes.com/business/bo ... -747-work/

"Just a year ago, Triumph Group, which currently builds the 747 fuselage panels in Hawthorne, Calif., decided to exit the program as slowing of production to one jet per month made the venture unprofitable."

My guess is road transport, then barge, then ship, barge, road...


David

speedbird52 wrote:

But how does Boeing transport their other widebodies parts? I don't see how a 747 fuselage could be brought into Mukilteo by road!

If I'm not mistaken, 777 and 747 production is different from the 787 and fuselage panels arrive by train/air and are pieced together in Everett to become fuselage sections.

speedbird52 wrote:

Okay, we all know how 737 and 787 parts are brought in. (By rail and by air) But how does Boeing transport their other widebodies parts? I don't see how a 747 fuselage could be brought into Mukilteo by road!

The 737 fuselage is assembled as a complete unit by Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita and then shipped by rail to the Renton FAL.

The 787 fuselage is assembled in sectional barrels by various contractors in the US, Japan and Italy and then shipped by air to the Everett and Charleston FALs (note: some sections are assembled in Charleston next to the FAL).

The 747, 767 and 777 are assembled as fuselage panels by various contractors in the US and Japan and normally shipped by sea and rail to Everett where they are then assembled into complete fuselages. Some 747-8 panels were air-shipped via An-124 to Everett due to production delays at Vought.

As a side note, before they did so with the 787, Boeing did consider having the 777's fuselage barrels assembled in Japan and shipped by sea to Everett.

http://missoulian.com/crews-dismantling ... 963f4.html

Does not always go as planned.

readytotaxi wrote:

http://missoulian.com/crews-dismantling-boeing-fuselages-pulled-from-river/article_d99e81e0-1386-11e4-93eb-0019bb2963f4.html

Does not always go as planned.

Poor 737s got a little jealous of the A320 that landed in the Hudson...

Stitch wrote:

speedbird52 wrote:

Okay, we all know how 737 and 787 parts are brought in. (By rail and by air) But how does Boeing transport their other widebodies parts? I don't see how a 747 fuselage could be brought into Mukilteo by road!

The 737 fuselage is assembled as a complete unit by Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita and then shipped by rail to the Renton FAL.

The 787 fuselage is assembled in sectional barrels by various contractors in the US, Japan and Italy and then shipped by air to the Everett and Charleston FALs (note: some sections are assembled in Charleston next to the FAL).

The 747, 767 and 777 are assembled as fuselage panels by various contractors in the US and Japan and normally shipped by sea and rail to Everett where they are then assembled into complete fuselages. Some 747-8 panels were air-shipped via An-124 to Everett due to production delays at Vought.

As a side note, before they did so with the 787, Boeing did consider having the 777's fuselage barrels assembled in Japan and shipped by sea to Everett.

Spirit also builds the section 41 of all Boeing airplanes in Wichita. All but the 787 are in multiple pieces to fit inside rail cars.

787 and 737 fuselage barrel sections are also built/delivered "complete" ... as in all interior wiring/fittings are in place, so you literally just bolt the pieces together and connect the wires/pipes. Pretty neat stuff.

readytotaxi wrote:

http://missoulian.com/crews-dismantling-boeing-fuselages-pulled-from-river/article_d99e81e0-1386-11e4-93eb-0019bb2963f4.html

Does not always go as planned.

(In David Attenborough's voice)
Here we see the newly hatched 737's emerging from the water and preparing themselves for their long migration to Renton.

On Earth they transport them as described above. I'm not sure what they will do on Mars. ;p

ODwyerPW wrote:

On Earth they transport them as described above. I'm not sure what they will do on Mars. ;p

Airbus spaceplanes!


David

flyingturtle wrote:

ODwyerPW wrote:

On Earth they transport them as described above. I'm not sure what they will do on Mars. ;p

Airbus spaceplanes!

Interplanetary Transport Airbus Spacewhale Beluga 2XL

Remembering of course that the "first flight" of Airbus aircraft before the Beluga, was in fact in a Boeing.

Just curious as to why did Boeing not build a complete 737 assembly line in Wichita? I'm sure that someone at Boeing in the past fifty years has run the numbers, just wondering how Kansas compared to Washington.

Bostrom wrote:

(In David Attenborough's voice)
Here we see the newly hatched 737's emerging from the water and preparing themselves for their long migration to Renton.

It's that time of year when 737s go up river to spawn.

I live near the tracks that take 737 fuselages as they come down the Cascade mountains, not far from this picture. Always fun to see them go by.

Hey, about those 737s that ended up in the river... Were they salvageable, either in whole or in part? Just curious, thanks.

Bob

Just curious as to why did Boeing not build a complete 737 assembly line in Wichita? I'm sure that someone at Boeing in the past fifty years has run the numbers, just wondering how Kansas compared to Washington.

A couple of reasons come to mind, though I'm sure there are others...

- Boeing has been building planes and components for planes in the Midwest since World War Two. A large number of B-29s came out of Wichita, for example.
- As a result of this historical aerospace work, there is a rather large and skilled workforce in the area.
- Midwestern states are often right to work states (not always, but they are generally the more you move west), so this might - might - result in lower employee costs.

Like I said, I'm sure there are other reasons, as well.

smithbs wrote:

I live near the tracks that take 737 fuselages as they come down the Cascade mountains, not far from this picture. Always fun to see them go by.

do they still have to mend "gunshot wounds" on the fuselages on occasion?