EVERETT, Wash., Jan. 10, 2011 — Final assembly started today on the 1,000th Boeing (NYSE: BA) 767 airplane. Workers marked the milestone with a celebration at the Everett, Wash. factory.
“This milestone is a credit to every employee who had a hand in building 767s over the past 30 years,” said Kim Pastega, vice president and general manager of the 767 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “It is a testament to engineering a high-quality product that continues to improve through the years.”
Final assembly is the last step of the production process before the airplane rolls out of the factory on its way to the paint hangar and the Everett Delivery Center for ground and flight tests. The 1,000th airplane – a 767-300ER (extended range) passenger model for ANA (All Nippon Airways) – is the last 767 to complete final assembly in its current home. Beginning with line number 1001 – also a 767-300ER for ANA – all future 767s will complete that step in a new, smaller bay where production is scheduled to increase in 2011.
The 1,000th airplane is scheduled for delivery next month. ANA, a long-time Boeing customer, has taken delivery of 89 767s since placing its first order in 1979.
Boeing will use the 767 as the platform for its NewGen Tanker if it wins the U.S. Air Force KC-X Tanker competition. That contract award currently is scheduled for early this year.
The 767 family is a family of clean, quiet, fuel-efficient airplanes that provide maximum market versatility in the 200- to 300-seat market. The 767 family includes three passenger models — the 767-200ER, 767-300ER and 767-400ER — and a medium-widebody freighter, which is based on the 767-300ER fuselage.
American Airlines flight AA-65 had to divert and make an emergency landing at Charles de Gaulle Airport, France, on June 4th.
Southwest Airlines flight WN-471 had to divert and make an emergency landing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 29th.