First 787 built in South Carolina takes test flight
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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's burgeoning aeronautics industry flew by another milestone Wednesday as the first Boeing 787 manufactured in the state took off on its maiden flight.
The first aircraft manufactured at Boeing's new $750 million assembly plant in North Charleston lifted gracefully into a hazy blue sky shortly after noon. The aircraft spent about 45 minutes on the taxiway for several tests, including brakes, and to let other air traffic clear the Charleston International Airport.
Six Boeing employees were on aboard the white plane with a red tail stripe for a shakedown flight across the Southeast expected to last about four hours.
The aircraft has been purchased by Air India and is to be delivered this summer.
By the end of this year, Boeing plans to have turned out four planes from its North Charleston plant. It hopes to be producing about three-and-a-half planes a month by the end of next year.
The speedy, light aircraft are made partly from composite materials that include carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.
Boeing workers gathered outside the company's assembly plant as the aircraft taxied to the adjacent airport. About two dozen Boeing workers rode in cars and golf carts to the airport and stood in a grassy area by the runway as the plane took off.
About 6,000 Boeing workers turned out last month as the company held a rollout ceremony for the new jet. That event was attended by top Boeing execs and state, federal and local politicians. After the rollout, the engines were tested before Wednesday initial flight.
It took about 30 months from groundbreaking until the first 787 was rolled out.
The plant was a focus of political controversy as it was being built.
The National Labor Relations Board brought a complaint against the aircraft manufacturer alleging the nonunion South Carolina plant was built in retaliation for past union strikes in Washington state.
The complaint was dropped late last year after the Machinists Union approved a contract extension and Boeing promised to build a new version of the 787 in Washington.
The first aircraft manufactured at Boeing's new $750 million assembly plant in North Charleston lifted gracefully into a hazy blue sky shortly after noon. The aircraft spent about 45 minutes on the taxiway for several tests, including brakes, and to let other air traffic clear the Charleston International Airport.
Six Boeing employees were on aboard the white plane with a red tail stripe for a shakedown flight across the Southeast expected to last about four hours.
The aircraft has been purchased by Air India and is to be delivered this summer.
By the end of this year, Boeing plans to have turned out four planes from its North Charleston plant. It hopes to be producing about three-and-a-half planes a month by the end of next year.
The speedy, light aircraft are made partly from composite materials that include carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.
Boeing workers gathered outside the company's assembly plant as the aircraft taxied to the adjacent airport. About two dozen Boeing workers rode in cars and golf carts to the airport and stood in a grassy area by the runway as the plane took off.
About 6,000 Boeing workers turned out last month as the company held a rollout ceremony for the new jet. That event was attended by top Boeing execs and state, federal and local politicians. After the rollout, the engines were tested before Wednesday initial flight.
It took about 30 months from groundbreaking until the first 787 was rolled out.
The plant was a focus of political controversy as it was being built.
The National Labor Relations Board brought a complaint against the aircraft manufacturer alleging the nonunion South Carolina plant was built in retaliation for past union strikes in Washington state.
The complaint was dropped late last year after the Machinists Union approved a contract extension and Boeing promised to build a new version of the 787 in Washington.
