Boeing: You ought to be in pictures
07-Mar-2013 The first 737 built at the new rate of 38 airplanes per month is quickly moving its way through our Renton factory. Our team has been tracking the airplane's progress over the past several weeks, and I thought you'd be interested to see it in pictures.
The airplane, which will be delivered to Copa Airlines, will come out of the paint hangar in just a few days. I'll bring you more photos then.
Jan. 25: Renton employees load the first spar at the new rate into the Automated Spar Assembly Tool. Jim Anderson photo.
Feb. 13: One of the rate break wings in work in wings laydown. Jim Anderson photo.
Feb. 22: Loading one of the rate break wings onto a dolly for a move to Wings Systems Installation. Jim Anderson photo.
Feb. 22: The fuselage for the first airplane to be built at the new rate arrives via rail car from Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita. Boeing brought in eight new rail cars to support the production rate increase. Jim Anderson photo.
Feb. 25: Employees lower the rate break fuselage into the Systems Installation tool. Jim Anderson photo.
March 1: The vertical stabilizer is craned into position for customer Copa for the first airplane to be built at the rate of 38 airplanes a month. Jim Anderson photo.