confidence ago to those who work on the airplane. The program delivered its last passenger version to Kazakhstan’s Air Astana in June 2014. (No more orders for the passenger jet are in hand.) At that point, the 767 production rate dropped to one per month. Nothing beyond a 179-unit tanker order for the KC-46A by the U.S. Air Force was in place to keep the line going. The 757, a sister program created nearly the same time as the 767, had ended its production run in 2004. Three years ago, the 767 even moved to a smaller assembly line in the Everett factory, to free up space for the 777. A natural end to this line appeared forthcoming, according to 767 mechanics and others, but people remained hopeful. “Everyone still seemed very positive,” said Helanea Combs, 767 join and installation manufacturing manager. “We were able to move over here and get a fresh start.” Indeed. Boeing delivered 16 of the freighters in 2015 and the 767 production rate is scheduled to increase to two Photo: Production of the Boeing 767 is increasing following a sizable Federal Express order and renewed customer interest in the freighter version. The airplane first flew in 1981. BOB FERGUSON | BOEING MARCH 2016 | 31
Frontiers March 2016 Issue
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