December 2009

787 First Flight at Takeoff - Source: The Boeing Company

In spite of the cold, it would have been fun to be in Everett today to see the Boeing 787 maiden flight. I watched it on CNN and a live feed on my computer from a local TV Station. It took off at 10:28 a.m. PST. Of course within a few moments is was out of everyone’s sight – except for the pilots flying the two chase planes.

This as got to be a great moment for everyone at Boeing and its far reaching web of global partners and countless suppliers. Boeing has been through a lot of grief over this program – today they can blow off a little steam.

I spent over three years of my life working in Japan, Korea and Italy, qualifying various carbon fiber fuselage structure for the 787. It started way back here and I have to say it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When we weren’t jet-lagged from 18 hours flights to Korea or working 14/7 shifts during fuselage fabrication, we did manage some time to be tourists in places as diverse as the magical Miyajima Island to the surreal Trulli stone structures of Puglia.

787 Flying for the First Time - Photo Credit: The Boeing Company

It was hard work for me, and even harder for the many thousands of people all over the world that have contributed. For most, there will be a brief reprieve as the delays have caused an excess of inventory. Yet the real work on this amazing aircraft has not really begun: Boeing has to deliver well over 800 of them, and that just for starters.

To my many friends (and my few foes) at Boeing, and their many partners & suppliers around the planet – congratulations! All our hard work paid off!

For me, it was great to rekindle some of the memories that today’s flight brought back. Yet I’m glad this experience is past, as I can finally focus on my own dreams.

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