n COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES Global and personal The world says hello to the 787 Dreamliner

At the end of the 787 Dreamliner Premiere in Everett, Wash., thousands of representatives from customers, supplier partners, government, media—and Boeing employees—take the opportunity to get up close and personal with the airplane. TIM STAKE photo

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By Lori Gunter from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. For Capt. David Savy, CEO of 787 cus- Media coverage of the event was unprec- tomer Air Seychelles, the audience response n July 8, 2007, the commercial air- edented for Boeing. More than 300 reporters to the entrance parade of customers was the line industry looked to Everett, and camera crews attended, including rep- most amazing moment. Unprompted, the OWash., to see the future at the 787 resentatives from CNN International, the crowd stood and applauded as the chief exec- Dreamliner Premiere. In an event that was three major U.S. broadcast TV networks, utive officers and leaders of all 47 customers both a global celebration and a personal ex- China’s SINA.com, Japan’s major outlets, took their seats. “It was incredible that the perience, customers, manufacturers, sup- Time magazine and many others. employees recognized us,” he said. pliers, government officials and aviation “With this premiere we showcased to attendants from each of the air- enthusiasts greeted the new Boeing air- the world what Boeing is all about and what lines participated in the premiere event as plane with thunderous applause and praise. Boeing people can, and do, create,” said well. It was a rare opportunity for them— Early estimates indicate that more than Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing the chance to meet other flight attendants 1.5 million people celebrated the unveiling Commercial Airplanes. “For some, the from around the world. They swapped e- of the all-new jetliner. There were roughly memories of these events are beginning to mail addresses and said they planned to 35,000 people at more than 90 live events fade. For me, and many other past and pres- stay in touch with one another. coordinated by or with Boeing. An addi- ent Boeing employees, they never will.” Despite having to endure unusually hot tional 630,000 people watched on the Web. “I am so proud of the men and women weather for the Pacific Northwest and long Results on TV viewings are not as easy to who have helped bring this airplane to the entrance lines, employees responded equal- tally, but with extensive international avail- world,” said Mike Bair, vice president and ly as enthusiastically to the event. ability of the satellite transmission in addi- general manager of the 787 program. “In For many employees, the most person- tion to coverage of the event on Washing- our business this happens only every 15 or al part of the celebration started when the ton state TV stations, it’s easy to say the so years, so we have to get it right. I am factory doors opened to reveal the airplane. world was watching. very proud of what we have been able to More than one confessed to being teary As expected, enthusiasts from nations accomplish together.” eyed to see the first of this new generation where the Dreamliner is being built and of airplanes. And it seemed no one could will be operated had strong participation in Personal experience resist the desire to touch the new airplane the event. But the World Wide Web brought In Everett, attendees felt personally in- following the ceremony. in viewers from 195 countries—literally cluded in the event. Deborah Artis, who works on the 787

Finally, the moment everyone’s been waiting for. The doors of the Everett factory open ... and there it is: the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the star of the 787 Dreamliner Premiere event. JIM ANDERSON photo

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Above: U.S. TV journalist Tom Brokaw served as the emcee of the Dreamliner Premiere. During the event, the activities on the stage were projected on large screens. JIM ANDERSON photo

Below: The event featured live reports from the locations of the partners that produce major sections of the airplane. Speaking from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in , Japan, was Yoji Yamada, senior vice president and general manager for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagoya Aerospace Systems. MARIAN LOCKHART PHOTO

More rollout notes • Premiere weekend was also the most popular weekend for weddings across the United States, with the date 7-7-07 falling the day before the roll- out. brides were in a bit of a crunch, though: Rental chairs for their special day were hard to come by with 15,000 chairs already reserved for setup in the Everett factory. • On an average day the Boeing Web page (www.Boeing.com) receives about 60,000 page requests. On rollout Sunday, there were more than 3 mil- lion. Among the nations where people logged on to view the Premiere were Azerbaijan, Algeria, Uruguay, Jamaica, Vatican City and Iran.

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Baseline Standards Team, delighted in the firmed what designer Patricia Urquiola Christer Hellstrand, has spent much of the response of her 11-year-old daughter, Mad- spoke about during the premiere event. She past year away from his son, working with eline, at the end of the event. commented that you can tell a good design 787 partners in Japan. As delighted as his “She scooted through all the people, for any product because people want to son was to see the airplane, Christer was shook hands with the chief executive of- touch it. happy to see his son’s appreciation for the ficer of ANA and introduced herself. He “You have a winner,” she said as thou- airplane he has been working on. introduced himself. She told him, ‘Thank sands moved forward to get their chance to For that day, the world appreciated the you for buying our airplane,’ and he said, feel the future of flight. hard work thousands have poured into the ‘No, thank you!’” Artis said. “She climbed Ten-year-old Patrick Hellstrand agreed. 787, and that appreciation had a lasting ef- on the tire and took a picture of herself. I “It was cool, awesome and amazing to see fect on Boeing. Perhaps Leonard Bird, a needed a wheelchair so I wasn’t able to go the new airplane. The best part was to be third-shift support manag- up to the airplane, but my daughter did, able to jump up and touch the airplane. It er on the 787 program, said it best: “I am and that is what counted.” was also kind of cool to meet the people proud to be a Boeing employee.” n The rush to touch the new airplane con- dad works with every day.” Patrick’s father, [email protected]

Members of the Boeing Seven-Series family of airplanes lined up in Seattle the day before the 787 Dreamliner Premiere event. On the taxiway, from left, are an 777-300ER (Extended Range), a Delta Air Lines 767; a 757; the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 Flying Test Bed 747-200; an Alaska Airlines 737-800; a FedEx 727; an AirTran Airways 717; and an Omega Air 707. In addi- tion, the -400 Dreamlifter was on static display (far left). Ed Turner photo

Seventh heaven where guests were gathered for a reception. products needed to be recognized—both for Customers and dignitaries were treated to a This is the first time the airplanes have all been the technical advancements they have made one-of-a-kind flying display the day before the on display sequentially, providing a unique look and the contributions other Boeing employees 787 Dreamliner Premiere. at the family. have made to the 787 program. In a tribute to the Boeing jetliners that preceded Members of the 787 team were surveyed in ad- In addition to the Saturday display, a special the 787, each of the Seven Series airplanes vance of the Premiere to determine what would series of videos celebrated the Seven Series, flew in to in Seattle and parked on contribute to making a successful event. They one debuting daily during the eight days leading the runway in front of The , clearly stated that the entire family of Boeing up to rollout.

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