The Boeing Everett Factory is the largest building in the world by volume 13,385,378 m3 and covers 399,480 m2… equal in size to Disneyland with its parking. Forget the mammoth building, as an avid traveler, I’m interested in the behind the scenes of the mammoth wings that carried me from Abu Dhabi to the US during a 16-hour flight across continents, seas and oceans.
It is here in Everett, Washington, a few kilometers north of Seattle, that the Etihad Airways 777 conveyors – and “siblings” 747, 767 and 787 Dreamliner – are assembled.
It is in these premises that the 20th century flight evolution “took off” with the mighty 747 – AKA Jumbo Jet – and later with the bigger aircrafts that required constantly larger airports. This aviation revolution had a domino effect, triggering a boom in many other sectors …tourism, business…
The highlight of the tour was the unveiling of the newest kid on the block: the last version in the 777 series…this baby will have foldable wings and is expected to join the fleet early next year.
The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter transports Boeing parts from suppliers around the world to Boeing’s assembly plants. We were lucky to see one and were advised to take its picture from the terrace which is the only place allowed to take pictures .
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