Sake Barrel and Toasts to Fastest-Selling Jetliner in Aviation History
ANA and Boeing mark a week of 787 Dreamliner Milestones
Final assembly of the first 787 Dreamliner to be delivered to ANA began this week in Boeing's Everett factory.
In celebration, the Boeing and ANA Working Together Team held a "Kagami Wari" ceremony, the breaking open of a wooden "taru" (sake barrel) lid with wooden mallets - a traditional Japanese way of marking auspicious occasions - on June 17.
"Congratulations to Boeing on the start of the historic assembly of the first 787 Dreamliner for commercial flight," said ANA President & CEO Shinichiro Ito. "As the launch customer, we are delighted and excited to see the achievement of this milestone and to have worked closely together to reach this day. We look forward to the start of the 787 flight test program and delivery into our fleet next year."
"This is a great day for the 787 team," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program. "In 2004, ANA demonstrated great faith in Boeing and the 787 by placing the largest launch order for any new airplane in Boeing history. Since then, the ANA team has been an integral part of developing the 787 family of airplanes."
"Speaking for our entire global 787 team, including our partners, I'd like to say we are honored by ANA's commitment to the Dreamliner," Mr Fancher said. "We look forward to our continued partnership as we prepare the 787 to enter commercial service."
ANA became the launch customer of the 787 programme in April 2004, when it placed fifty firm orders for the aircraft type. The first 787 is set for delivery to ANA in the first quarter of 2010.
The 787 Dreamliner has 865 orders from 56 airlines, making it the fastest-selling all-new jetliner in aviation history.
Second Test Aircraft Moves to Flight Line in ANA Colours
The 787 test flight programme is set to commence by the end of this month, when the first of six test aircraft will lift off from Paine Field in Everett. The second* test aircraft, painted in ANA livery to honour ANA's launch customer status, completed rigorous factory testing and was moved to the flight line on June 15th, where it started fuel testing.
"ANA will be the first to fly the 787 Dreamliner in commercial service," noted Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program. "We are honoured to fly in ANA livery throughout the flight-test program as a tribute to our partnership in bringing this all-new airplane to market."
* ANA will not take delivery of the second test aircraft. Its first aircraft will be aircraft number seven in order of production.
