EVERETT — Sporting white smocks and a sense of humor, Boeing Co. employees warmed up the crowd in Everett as the company prepared to unveil its new 777 Freighter on Wednesday.
Forget the glitz, glamour and media hoopla that accompanied Boeing’s last debut, for its 787 in July. The focus of Wednesday’s event in Everett were the employees who built the new freighter, the jet’s customers and suppliers.
The event was not without star power. The lovable children’s character Barney made a brief appearance, as did the Japanese idol Hello Kitty and rock singer Meatloaf. In one form or another, such as stuffed animal and rock CDs, each represented cargo that Boeing’s new 777 Freighter could carry.
The popular twin-engine 777 cargo plane furthers Boeing’s strength in the freighter market.
“This gives our customers that much more flexibility in choosing the right freighter,” said Larry Loftis, vice president of the 777 program.
Since its launch three years ago, the 777 Freighter has won 78 orders from 11 customers. It joins Boeing’s cargo family that includes 737, 747 and 767 freighter offerings.
Pierre Vellay, a senior executive with 777 Freighter launch customer Air France, applauded Boeing for allowing the carrier and freighter companies a say in the design of Boeing’s new cargo plane.
“Working as true partners with Boeing on the 777 Freighter, we are pleased with the capability and performance it will bring to the air cargo industry,” Vellay said.
Air France hopes to see its first of five 777 Freighters in October, Vellay said.
The unveiling of Boeing’s 777 Freighter is just one step toward handing over the cargo jet later this year.
Boeing plans to begin flight testing in June. It additionally will need to obtain regulatory certification on the 777 Freighter before first delivery.
Boeing’s Kim Pastega, deputy manager for the 777 Freighter program, seemed confident in the freighter’s future.
“We have designed a freighter that will fly farther and carry more cargo than any other twin-engine airplane,” Pastega said.
The 777 Freighter will be capable of flying 4,885 nautical miles with a full payload. The cargo plane has a maximum takeoff weight of 766,000 pounds.
Boeing employees assembled the first 777 Freighter on Boeing’s new moving assembly line in Everett. And they did so at time when the company was increasing production on its 777 passenger planes, said Elizabeth Lund, director of 777 manufacturing.
Perhaps that’s why Boeing put the emphasis on its workers on Wednesday. Fifteen minutes before the event started, Scott Carson, Boeing’s president of commercial airplanes, shook hands and visited with the machinists and engineers who build Boeing jets.
A handful of employees were invited to showcase their paper airplane building talents in a contest on center stage. Winner Shannon Moriarty, who works on 787 interiors, proudly showed off her trophy as she eyed the first 777 Freighter.
“I love it,” Moriarty said. “I love all Boeing jets.”
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
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