EVERETT — The Boeing Co. will begin production on its new 777 Freighter early next year at its Everett factory, company officials said Thursday.
The aerospace company also announced a major sale of 777 and 737 passenger jetliners.
Boeing engineers recently completed more than 90 percent of the design work for the new cargo airplane. Suppliers already have begun production of parts and major components. Boeing plans to deliver the first 777 Freighter to launch customer Air France in the fourth quarter of 2008.
“We designed the 777 Freighter to be the most capable twin-engine cargo airplane,” said Larry Loftis, Boeing’s vice president of the 777 program. “We are excited to begin building the first 777 Freighter.”
Boeing has sold 82 777 Freighters to 11 customers, accounting for more than 20 percent of the 777 program’s backlog. To date, Boeing has received more than 1,030 orders for the 777 from 53 customers worldwide.
Analysts have worried that the six-month delay in Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner program could slosh over and impact the company’s 777 Freighter program. Both the 787 and 777 Freighter could be in flight test during the same time in order to meet similar delivery dates, causing a potential shortage of flight test pilots. Boeing officials have said, however, the Dreamliner delay will not affect the 777 Freighter’s schedule.
The new cargo jet is based on the passenger model 777-200LR Worldliner. The 777 Freighter will have a range of 4,885 nautical miles with a full payload and have a maximum takeoff weight of 766,000 pounds.
Boeing says its new cargo jet will fly farther and provide more capacity than any other twin-engine cargo airplane. The main cargo door of the 777 Freighter has been designed to allow easy direct-transfer shipments with the 747 freighter fleet, which provides about half of the world’s freighter capacity.
Also on Thursday, Boeing and GE Commercial Aviation Services announced a 55-jet deal, worth $4.5 billion at list prices. The order for 53 Boeing 737-800s and two Boeing 777-300 Extended Range jetliners previously was attributed to an undisclosed customer on Boeing’s orders and deliveries Web site.
“This additional order with Boeing will allow (GE) to help our customers around the world benefit from the leading-edge operational efficiency and excellence that the Boeing Next-Generation 737 and 777-300ER aircraft deliver,” Henry Hubschman, GE Commercial Aviation’s president and chief executive, said in a press statement.
The U.S. and Irish commercial aircraft financing and leasing company has a fleet of 1,450 owned aircraft, which it leases to more than 230 airlines in some 70 countries.
Through Tuesday, Boeing had received 1,146 net orders for its commercial jets this year, making it a record sales year for the company. Boeing shares finished Thursday at $88.55, up $1.63.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
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