787-10 progresses through final assembly

Boeing Photo

Boeing is handing some great shots of the 787-10 lately.  Now is a photo of the first aircraft, ZC001 (LN528, N528ZC) in position 2 in building 88-30.  This really shows off the enormous size of the 787-10 to great effect compared to the -9 and -8 that are in the other assembly positions in the background.  I expect that this -10 will now be getting it's landing gear in this position and will probably stay there until after the Holidays as Boeing will shut down for the remainder of the year starting Dec. 23rd.

In the "Where's ZB813" segment, we can see that the formally damaged 787-9 for Xiamen is still inside 88-30 in the upper left corner of the photo.  However it look complete with engines and all wing/body fairings are on so that's a good sign.  It might be ready to roll out of the factory any day now.

I'm still awaiting confirmation that ZA674 (LN 513, N793AV) has been contractually delivered to Avianca as the 500th 787 delivered.  Stranger still is no word from Boeing on this important milestone. You'd think that delivering 500 787s five and quarter years after first delivery would be an achievement that Boeing's PR would be crowing about.  Yet nothing.  Stay tuned....

First 787-10 completes wing-body join, Boeing delivers 499th 787

Boeing Photo

Boeing Photo

Boeing released a couple of photos showing ZC001 (LN 528) in final assembly position 1 which is the wing-body join area.  In it we get a pretty good look at the size of the 787-10 compared to the AA 787-9 next to it.  By now this aircraft should be in position 2 where it should get its landing gear.

Notice in the second picture the Xiamen Airlines 787-9 (ZB813, LN 512) is still inside 88-30 but now it has it engines. It seems that this aircraft probably took a little longer to repair.

Today Boeing delivered the 499th 787 to Air Europa. ZA885 (LN 508, EC-MMY) is the second 787-8 to be delivered.  I expect Boeing to deliver Dreamliner #500 on Dec. 20th to Avianca.

Bloomberg picture shows 787-9 for Xiamen undergoing repairs to wing body join area

Photo By Julie Johnson

A week ago, journalist Julie Johnson of Bloomberg visited Boeing North Charleston on took a couple of revealing pictures like the one above showing a panorama of the final assembly hall.  What is interesting is not the 787-10 in position 0 or the 787-9 for Korean Air in position 1 but he aircraft in the background in position 6.  This is the Xiamen Airlines 787-9, ZB813 (LN 512) that had the assembly mishap when MT were drilling holes into the left wing and body join area.

Photo By Julie Johnson

As you can see from the blow up of Julie's photo, the wing body fairing for the left wing is off and the engines aren't hanging off the wings thus indicating (as of December 6th) that Boeing was still fixing the aircraft.  As far as the information that I have this 787-9 is still scheduled to roll out on Dec. 16th and take it's first flight on Dec. 28th and will be ferried for painting on January 4th.  Delivery is still TBD but I am projecting that it should occur around the 3 or 4th week of January.

Post Thanksgiving Cornucopia of 787 News

Now that the Thanksgiving Holidays are over 787 production and test flights are starting up again in a race to  finish off the year with the 500th 787 delivery.  Here's some tidbits of 787 news that's come out.

ZB813 (LN 512) is in the process of being repaired and should roll out in about two and half weeks on Dec. 16th.  It should have its B-1 flight on Dec. 28th and a B-2/ferry flight (for painting) on January 4th.  It seems like Xiamen approved of the repairs to the damage to the aircraft and I believe it should take delivery by the end of January.

ZC001 (LN 528), the first 787-10 should enter position 1 for the start of final assembly around Dec. 5th and the start of wing/body join.  No word on a roll out date but I suspect it'll be a little longer to build and roll out than a production 787-9 given that there'll be some testing done inside 88-30 during and after assembly.  I am guessing that roll out should occur by mid January at the very latest.

ZB246 (LN 500, F-HRBA) Air France's first 787-9 (being leased from AerCap) was delivered today and will fly to Paris tomorrow.  The carrier should receive 4 to 5 more 787s by the end of next year.

Lastly, Juneyao Airlines is the latest Chinese airline to order the 787-9.  Actually it's an MoU for 5 787-9 with an option for another 5 aircraft.  This is part of a buying spree by Chinese airlines for the 787.  One hopes that the new President doesn't fuck things up and start a trade war with China.  If that happens then all bets are off that these airplanes will be delivered except for the ones that are in production.

Assembly accident may force Boeing to scrap 787-9 under construction

According to sources, an assembly mishap during the wing-body join for a 787-9 destined for Xiamen Airlines may force Boeing to scrap the left wing of the aircraft and possibly the fuselage itself as well.  The aircraft in question, ZB813 (LN 512) entered final assembly on November 1, 2016 in North Charleston and was due to be delivered in January 2017.

The mishap came when manufacturing techs drilled holes into the stack up of the wing/body join. They drilled a 7 degree angled hole, and also drilled an over sized hole straight through the test (angled) hole which didn't clean it up. It produced an eyebrow crack on both sides.  

Boeing engineers will have to look at putting in a large expansion plug (or freeze plug) but it is a large hole that has to be plugged.  

Xiamen will have to approve of the repair but if they don't then Boeing may have to scrap the wing and fuselage.  Currently the aircraft is in position 6 in the 88-30 assembly building with both wings attached.  As the line pulses the aircraft under assembly has to be pulled out so that they can be properly positioned in the next line position for continued assembly positions. LN 512 is essentially a large road block in the middle of the 787 final assembly hall.  I'm not sure what impact this will have to the start of final assembly of ZC001 (LN 528) which is the first 787-10.  I don't think it will have an effect as the aircraft is due to start final assembly around December 6th or December 7th.

I hope to have more information on this development.