What they’re saying
Published 9:43 pm Tuesday, December 15, 2009
“It’s just a landmark, a historic moment. This is changing aviation history.”
— Boeing worker Laura Roeder, 44, of Shoreline.
“Finally, finally, finally. I am excited about this accomplishment. It has been long overdue but better late than never. This is the best airplane maker in the world.”
— State Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds
“It’s a beautiful airplane and I want to see it fly.”
— Ben Graham of Seattle, 23, the first person outside the Future of Flight in the wee hours Tuesday waiting to see the 787 take wing
“Today’s flight is a tremendous gift, and it takes us enthusiastically into 2010. We are eager for flight testing to conclude and delivery to begin to customers around the world.”
— Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson
“Normally I’d be asleep right now. It’s a big job-security flight.”
— Michael Palmer, 26, who said he painted the first three 787s
“It is a very bittersweet day. Everybody is certainly happy to see the plane fly. But in the last few weeks as it’s gotten closer, I’ve heard my neighbors say, and I’ve heard people in Starbucks say, at what price did we lose a plant to the South in the process?”
— Paul Elvig of Everett, a longtime activist in Snohomish County politics
“I’m a flier. I’m a pilot. I’m excited about it. It looks pure.”
— Floyd Johnson, 72, a retired airline pilot who traveled from Glen Ellyn, Ill. to see the 787 lift off
“The graceful takeoff of the 787 on its maiden voyage is a testament to the vision of the company’s leadership, the ingenuity of its engineers, and the skill of its machinists. I am also looking forward to maiden flights of the 747-8 and hopefully the Air Force’s next mid-air refueling tanker to build on the success of this great day.
— Gov. Chris Gregoire in a statement from Copenhagen, Denmark, where she is attending the conference on climate change
“If there had been a seat available for me, I’d have been on board.”
— Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, who has blamed the Democratic majority in the Legislature for failing to do enough to keep a second production line in Washington
“What would Bill Boeing say about today? He would say that we achieved another milestone … We can still build a product, still compete and still win because we are innovating with aviation.”
— U.S. Sen Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.
“The problems that Boeing had to overcome were fixed by the men and women of this community. That plane flew because of the people of Snohomish County, and they should take pride in that.”
— Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon
“Let’s celebrate this moment, but there’s still a lot of work to do in the future to keep aerospace here and thriving.”
— State Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens
“Boeing’s success with the 787 illustrates the importance of air mobility and its economic impact to the Puget Sound region. State leaders now need to improve the business climate in Washington so the region doesn’t also lose the Dreamliner to a more competitive state.”
— Michael Ennis, transportation director, Washington Policy Center, in an e-mail
“It was worth standing in the cold for two hours. We’ll talk about it when we’re old. I saw the first plastic plane fly.”
— Glenn Wysen, 10, of Seattle who proclaimed it “awesome.”
“This represents a triumph of the skilled engineers, technical workers and Machinists who work at Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems. Seeing the 787 take flight is a moment of great pride for everyone who played a part.”
— Ray Goforth, executive director of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace
