As major sections for the first 777-8 Freighter entered Boeing’s 777/777X final assembly facility in Everett, Washington, assembly installer Pedro Landa reflected on the significance of the team’s work. “This is something to be proud of,” said Landa. “It’s a whole new freighter that our customers are excited about, and we’re excited to be building something brand new.
What’s happening: Boeing teams brought the 777-8F’s mid-fuselage together with its composite wings, which span 235 feet (72 meters) – about twice the distance of the Wright brother’s first flight. This production milestone is known as wing-body join.
Nearby, teams began outfitting forward and aft fuselage sections with systems and wiring. Why it matters: Customers are paying close attention to program milestones. The 777-8 Freighter has won 68 orders from customers worldwide. “We’re building on the success of the legacy 777 Freighter,” said Jens Biemann, design engineer lead. “This is going to be an airplane that will help customers be successful in their businesses.”
The path ahead: The team acknowledged the challenges inherent in building a new airplane, from coordinating parts to becoming familiar with new installation plans, as they work across functions on the build.
“This is the first one and it isn’t a seamless effort yet,” said Landa. “But we rely on each other, count on one another and succeed as a team. And as we move on with more and more, we’ll get more familiar with it and learn how to build it more efficiently.”
Meaningful moments: Teammates shared the pride they feel when they see their hard work take flight.
“It truly is a cool factor,” said Madalin Bustescu, team lead. “To be able to look up in the sky and tell my daughter, ‘I worked on those’ – it’s quite an achievement. There are no words to describe that feeling.”
“Nobody gets to build these beautiful airplanes but us,” added Jason Clark, 777/777X vice president and general manager and Everett site leader. “You should all be proud of what you’re doing here today because you’re bringing that next generation of airplane to life.”
