Boeing factory - and a reminder about the military-industrial complex

Today was our tour of the Boeing factory.  NOTHING could be taken with us - no cameras, mobiles, handbags, let alone backpacks - just ourselves in our clothes.  (The last time that I remember this level of restriction  was visiting the Mao Mausoleum in Beijing).  The whole complex was huge - deceptively so.  They had separate " bays" for 747/767 and then 787 (Dreamliner)/777.  We were taken to observation decks 3 or 4 storeys above the work-sites.  We saw nose cones, bodies being joined together, wings being assembled and joined up to the body, horizontal and vertical stabilisers etc etc.

Once the wings have been joined to the body, then that section is too heavy for the cranes to lift.  It is only when the wheels have been attached that you get the WOW factor - weight on wheels.

Only the 787 appears white as it is being made - because it is largely carbon fibre.  Other planes have that green stuff, to protect against corrosion before paint.  And apparently painting adds to the weight of the aircraft, especially if there are too many layers of multiple colours.

We saw a Qantas and Air France 787 in production.  A Scoot aircraft (787?) was outside, paint having been completed, at the stage of being tested and awaiting delivery.  A KLM plane was being tested.  There were a couple of Emirates, Air India, Chinese airlines, El Al around the place.

No surprises really - just like all the pics you see of aircraft assembly, but it was good to see it and to take in the massive scale of it all.

The only jarring note was in the introductory video with a glowing rendition of Boeing's vision, excellence etc etc etc.  Well ok - pride in achievement is a good thing - but then one of the claims was that it was there "to protect us"!   Later we saw some 767s destined to be aircraft re-fuellers for the Air Force.  So I began to look for just who their customers are.  According to Investopedia,  27% of Boeing revenue comes from purchases by and through the US Government.  Just a reminder that you were seeing part of the military industrial complex.  AerCap, an aviation leasing and finance company was a big customer as was FedEx.   

Some pics below.  None from inside the factory, but taken from the Institute of Flight which the administration centre for tourists.

All that stands between you and eternity when you are in the air!

 Somewhere out there is Scoot, Air India, Emirates.. all ready for their new owners.

 And the KLM purchase (or lease?) having just gone for a fly.

 And guess who else is here too.....

 And just added to our list of must do's - Toulouse to see the Airbus factory!