Goodrich Corp. will assemble the landing gear for the Boeing Co.’s new 747-8 at its Everett plant, the corporation announced Wednesday.
Boeing on Wednesday released engineering drawings for the landing gear, which are among the first components of the new jumbo jet to be completed.
“It is really exciting to see the new 747-8 become a reality with these first drawing releases,” said Corky Townsend, Boeing’s chief project engineer for the 747 program.
Goodrich said it will provide the landing gears under the nose, wings and body of the 747-8, as well as wheels and brakes.
The 747-8 is the latest version of Boeing’s iconic jumbo jet. Boeing plans to stretch the plane to carry 450 passengers, while incorporating new technology and engines developed for the 787 to make it more fuel-efficient.
Design work is on schedule, and Boeing expects to deliver the first 747-8 in 2009, Townsend said.
The drawings of the body landing gear that Boeing released Wednesday are detailed enough for Goodrich to begin developing the machinery to forge the part, Boeing said. Each plane will have two sets, one on each side of the plane.
Goodrich has supplied landing gears for the 747 since its inception, and has delivered 1,375 sets to Boeing so far. “We are very excited to be chosen to continue to support this very successful program for many years to come,” said Mike Secord, vice president of Boeing commercial programs for Goodrich’s landing gear unit.
Components for the landing gear are manufactured at Goodrich plants in Ohio, Tennessee, Canada and Poland. They’re assembled at the corporation’s landing gear plant on 94th Street SW in Everett, and delivered from there to Boeing.
Goodrich said it plans to deliver the first 747-8 landing gear in 2008.
Boeing on Wednesday also released engineering documents detailing the type and amount of titanium to be used for engine fittings underneath the new plane’s wings. Boeing and a Chinese partner will now place orders for the metal, the company said. The parts will be machined by Precision Machine Works in Tacoma.
Boeing so far has taken orders for 18 747-8s, all freighter versions that will go to Cargolux of Luxembourg and Nippon Cargo Airlines of Japan.
Boeing executives, however, say they’re confident they will get orders this year for the passenger version, which they’ve dubbed “The Intercontinental.”
Executives visited Europe last week to meet with potential customers. According to new reports, they’ve also made proposals to other airlines, including China Airlines of Taiwan, Jet Airways of India and Australia’s Qantas.
Reporter Bryan Corliss: 425-339-3454 or corliss@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
