Night moves Moving a huge new jetliner out of the factory is more than a day job By Dan Rale y | photos by Bob fe rguson The new 777 jetliner is parked inside the final-assembly plant in Everett, Wash., surrounded on all sides. Work-stands hug much of the fuselage. Portable stairways align with open passenger and cargo hatches. Hydraulic hoses and electrical cords connect to the underbelly. Trash containers, parts tables and stepladders fill whatever space remains. It doesn’t seem possible, but this plane is departing in 40 minutes. What happens next is not unlike an anthill, where everything suddenly turns busy yet purposeful. Employees on beeping forklifts begin removing equipment. Others use hand-held keyboards to systematically lower and steer heavy platforms off to the side. Yet others, ever mindful of their surroundings, carry off parts Photo: A 777 leaves the factory in Everett, Wash., a process that takes place twice weekly. 28 Boei ng Frontiers
Frontiers May 2015 Issue
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