Early 787 test plane is dismantled for reuse, recycling, or scrap

[turbinetree]

Boeing’s Dreamliner No. 5, one of the six flight-test 787s, was too heavily re-worked to sell. Finally, Boeing is dismantling the aircraft, in a reminder that the now-popular jet had major birthing pains.

Built in 2009 at an enormous cost of just over $600 million, Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner No.5 at last has arrived at its embarrassing final destination — the boneyard.

Boeing long ago abandoned any hope of finding a buyer for the jet. Now an airplane parts and recycling contractor is cutting the carbon fiber jet to pieces at Paine Field in Everett and dismantling it for scrap.

While Boeing pitches this ignominious end as an exploratory step forward in recycling technology, it’s also a cruel reminder that the now popular 787 had a ruinously difficult and expensive birth.

By now Boeing has sold more than 1,300 Dreaminers, and nearly 700 are flying worldwide. The planemaker is delivering the innovative jet at the fast clip of a dozen jets per month, expected to rise to 14 per month in a year or two.

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/early-787-test-plane-is-dismantled-for-reuse-recycling-or-scrap/

[Agschmid]

1. Its an amazing plane.

[turbinetree]

2. It sure is

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Paine Field is also where Boeing has its delivery facility. New 787s leave from there

[turbinetree]

4. B-777, B-747, B767 Final Assembly................Paine Field

[blake2012]

5. I got to go on a tour of Boeings Everett plant and see 787s being built

Also got to see the funky looking Dreamliftrr land and take off (purpose built to hold completely assembled sections of fuselage built in other locations). When I was next to Airbus’ factory in Hamburg, I saw they had a similar plane.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Pretty impressive, how huh?

[blake2012]

7. Yes indeed. The single aisle planes such as 727s were in such demand they were

Building some in Everett aside from the normal plant further south in Pugetopolis where they’re built.