This is your captain speaking

Published 10:23 pm Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Not cleared for takeoff: Though delayed, Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner edged closer to its first flight as it rolled up and down Paine Field’s runways Tuesday during taxiing and braking tests.

If you look up the word “restraint” in the dictionary, it is now accompanied by a photo of the pilot in Tuesday’s tests who resisted the urge to take off when he got to the end of the runway.

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Insert slot A into tab B: Some officials are concerned that Boeing’s purchase of a 787 supplier in South Carolina could mean that Boeing intends to build its next 787 assembly line in the southern state.

That may actually be a concern once the South Carolina workers making pieces of the 787 figure out which way to install the fasteners.

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Passing the ball: Looking for something to do until November? The Port of Everett has a temporary vacancy on its board of commissioners, and preference is being given to those who don’t plan on running for the spot in the general election.

We’d suggest that this would be an ideal short-term gig for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, R-Resigning in a Different Direction, but we know how she hates being a lame duck. And we think the port’s looking for a power forward more than a point guard.