Vought Congratulates Boeing on 747-8’s First Flight

Vought’s 40+ year history on the 747 program offers unique perspective on the aircraft’s technological evolution

DALLAS, FEB. 8, 2010 – Today marked the first flight of the 747-8, the next generation of the popular airliner that entered commercial service 40 years ago.  As the aircraft commenced its historic flight, employees at Vought Aircraft Industries reflected on the role they have played in the ‘Queen of the Skies’ success.

“The 747 is an American treasure,” said Steve Davis, Vought vice president, Commercial Aerostructures Division. “It’s gratifying to know Vought has contributed to every one of the 1,400 747s that have flown and that the legacy lives on today in a bigger, better aircraft. We salute Boeing on its technological advancements and thank them for their long-term partnership with us.”

To prepare for the next-generation jumbo, Vought transformed its manufacturing operations. The company invested in automated assembly machines and techniques including a “moving” production line process, auto-riveters and two Brotje automated fastening machines.

Vought produces more than 60,000 pounds of structure for every 747 that is built. For the 747-8, Vought builds fuselage panels in Hawthorne, Calif.; the tail section, doors floor beams and bonnet fuselage panels in Grand Prairie, Texas; doors and the lower rudder in Stuart, Fla.; and lower rudder composite parts and nacelle components in Milledgeville, Ga. In addition, Vought’s Dallas Fabrication center provides many of the detail parts that go into the fuselage and tail assemblies of the airplane.   

Boeing launched the  -8 airplane in 2005 with orders for 18 747-8 Freighters. By working with customers and applying new technologies from the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing was able to create the 747-8 family. According to Boeing, the designation 747-8 was chosen to show the technology connection between the 787 and the new 747.

Vought has work share on every Boeing jetliner currently in production:

• 737: inboard wing flaps for the next-generation 737 (-600, 700, 800 and 900ER models)
• 747: fuselage sections, tail section, doors and nacelle components
• 767: center wing box, aft body section, horizontal stabilizer, doors and nacelle components
• 777: outboard and inboard wing flaps, spoilers and ailerons
• 787: longerons, stringers, shear ties, frame assemblies and engineering services

 

About Vought

Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. (www.voughtaircraft.com) is one of the world's largest independent suppliers of aerostructures. Headquartered in Dallas, the company designs and manufactures major airframe structures such as wings, fuselage subassemblies, empennages, nacelles and other components for prime manufacturers of aircraft. Vought has annual sales of approximately $1.8 billion and about 6,000 employees in eight U.S. locations.

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