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Boeing shows its humorous side

Published 9:00 pm Monday, October 29, 2001

By Bryan Corliss / Herald Writer

By Bryan Corliss

Herald Writer

Boeing customer Virgin Atlantic Airlines took delivery Monday of a brand-new 747 and another revolutionary vehicle unrivaled in fuel economy: a customized bicycle decked out in the airline’s flying colors.

It’s the culmination of a couple weeks of work by some Boeing Everett employees in their quest for ever new frontiers in practical joking.

It’s part of an inside joke played out on an international scale. Here’s the scoop:

The bike is the brainchild of engineer Pete Olson, who is the Boeing liaison with Virgin Atlantic. He describes the Virgin team as "just a fun group to work with. They work hard and play hard."

Part of that play involves a bicycle quite similar to the ones Boeing employees use to get around inside the mammoth Everett factory, Olson said. About a year ago, Virgin Atlantic employees "borrowed" one from Air New Zealand, and since then, they’ve flown it all around the globe, sending back photographs of the bike at famous locations.

Olson said he decided to get in on the joke, as Boeing prepared to deliver Virgin Atlantic the last of six 747s it will receive this year.

As is typical, Boeing hosted a dinner for Virgin Atlantic representatives Monday night, which included the ceremonial transfer of the title to the jet. Typically, Boeing spokesman Gary Lesser said, the company also presents the customer with a gift — a plaque or a nice piece of crystal. It’s the least you can do for someone who just wrote you a multi-million-dollar check.

But Virgin Atlantic is the creation of Sir Richard Branson, a colorful figure in the aerospace industry who made his fortune in rock’n’roll before starting his trans-Atlantic airline.

A staid crystal vase is "not Branson-ish," Lesser said.

What is "Branson-ish?" How about a factory-floor bike tricked out in a Virgin Atlantic paint job, with a couple gadgets and gizmos designed to remind one of the airline’s signature service.

"I tried to make it as much like the plane as possible," Olson said.

Among those features:

  • Both the bike and the jet have tails, bodies and winglets painted in Virgin Atlantic colors using the metallic paint favored by the airline. The metallic paint is uncommon, Olson said, and more likely to be used on show cars than big ol’ jet airliners.

  • The bike’s seat is upholstered with the same fabric used on the airplane’s seats, while the basket is lined with carpet from the jet’s interior.

  • The basket itself was filled with a martini glass, a can of Virgin cola and two mini-bottles of Virgin vodka (Virgin jets have a bar in first class). It also had a manicure kit and wood-handled massager, because Virgin jets also have beautician’s stations in first class.

  • Passengers sitting in the bike’s seat can watch a video screen identical to those in the jet’s passenger seats.

  • The basket is festooned with the pin-up girl logo Virgin paints on its jets. The bike was christened "Refuse to Lose," which is both an homage to the Mariners’ playoff run this fall — and an entendre poking fun at Boeing rival Airbus, based in Toulouse, France (as in "Refuse Toulouse").

    ??One big difference: a new 747-400 sells for about $200 million, but the bike’s list price is 300 bucks, Lesser said. And while a 747 can fly about 8,400 miles, there’s no limit to how far you can go on the bike before your tank runs out, Lesser joked. "How strong are your legs?"

    In all, about a dozen people worked on the bike in the factory, Olson said. A good time was had by all, he said. "It was great."

    Sir Richard was not on hand for Monday’s ceremony, in body. But he was there in spirit, Olson said.

    "Branson is a real colorful character. He’s always doing something unique. It really resonates through the company itself."

    You can call Herald Writer Bryan Corliss at 425-339-3454

    or send e-mail to corliss@heraldnet.com.

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