How long does it take to build a aircraft?

With all the talk of the A346, I was just wondering; how long does it take to build a average long haul aircraft?

I've done the Boeing widebody plant tour at Everett, WA, and they said that it takes about 9 months to build a 747-400 from start to finish.

Cheers,
Mike

On discovery the other night a Boeing spokesman said the most 747s Everett had turned out was 6 in one month[:0]

quote:Originally posted by jaguarpig
On discovery the other night a Boeing spokesman said the most 747s Everett had turned out was 6 in one month[:0]

Yep, there are 6 bays in the widebody fabrication building at Everett, being extended over the years from the initial three bays.

Right now, three build the 747, two build the 777, and one builds the 767. One of the 747 bays will be re-tooled to build the 7E7, as the 747 orderbook doesn't really warrant three bays.

Cheers,
Mike

According to a friend of mine who works for Airbus, the titanium forgings for a new aircraft are manufactured 2-2.5 years before delivery and the 'configuration freeze' is c18months before delivery, but the final assembly, testing etc only takes about 3 months.

WOW! I'd never think it would be that quick...

quote:Originally posted by Odessey
WOW! I'd never think it would be that quick...

Don't forget that Airbus tend to pre-fabricate significant portions of the aircraft, such as the entire forward fuselage and the wings, shipping all the bits to either Toulouse (A320s and widebodies) or Hamburg (A318/319/321) for assembly in the massive "Beluga" transporters.

This is why Airbus can carry out the final assembly much faster.

Cheers,
Mike

Oh I see, so Airbus's planes are like a big jigsaw puzzle.

Airbus - the Ikea of tyransportation.

quote:Originally posted by Odessey
Oh I see, so Airbus's planes are like a big jigsaw puzzle.

AIRFIX Models, just bigger

quote:Originally posted by mike-smashing
the massive "Beluga" transporters.

When i was younger i did summer work at aerostrutchers in hanble on the No.1 door for the beluga. once you had drilled a hole for the rivets the panel's had to go through 3-4 treatments defore fitment to the airframe.

Cheers

Phil

I did the Boeing Everett 747 tour about 12 years ago. They didn't show us the 767 area, but mentioned that a new extension (for 777) was planned. Great tour! I can recommend it to anyone in Seattle on hol. I believe the building is or was the largest single span on earth, or something. Any way truly massive. In the small portion used for 747 final assembly there were about 5 Jumbos largely finished and loads of others in large bits, noticeably the cockpit, and this was just a small fraction of the whole building. One 747 was on jacks with its undercarriage going up and down being tested. About 5 747s and 767s were outside being finished off prior to delivery. Some were painted, others just white. At that time they were doing about 6 a month, now much less. Like Airbus, many of the parts also come from other states and even countries. Most of the fuselage parts had a greenish tinge to them (protective covers?) but some were of noticeably different materials.
I believe all the Airbus wings made in U.K. by BAE. Flown in by Belugas. I think some parts for the 380 might go by boat?
Cheers

[fozzyo]

The Airbus wings are indeed made in the UK, in North Wales infact. They are made at the B.A.E. factory in Broughton which is just inside the Welsh border by Chester. I used to pass it regularly in my student days when I worked nearby or on bus trips to Chester.

Will be interesting to see how the 380 wings make it out, Hawarden Airport (EGNR) isn't exactly large and there isn't really much water near by to get it straight onto a boat.

Foz )

quote:Originally posted by fozzyo
Will be interesting to see how the 380 wings make it out, Hawarden Airport (EGNR) isn't exactly large and there isn't really much water near by to get it straight onto a boat.

I believe a special barge was built for the purpose:

quote:From Airbus A380 Website
The unique craft is designed and built by McTay Marine, a specialist ship builder, which has designed the vessel in close collaboration with the customer, Holyhead Transportation Company Ltd (who will own and operate the vessel for Airbus) and with AirbusÕ local and central A380 transportation teams Ð in Broughton and in Toulouse, France.

and again:

quote:From Airbus A380 Website

April 5 saw the first A380 wing leave AirbusÕ Broughton site in the UK,. The wing was loaded on to a purpose-designed river craft for its journey, via the River Dee, to the port of Mostyn. For this stage of their journey, the A380 wings were transported separately.

On April 7, the first A380 wing began its journey to Mostyn, via the River Dee, safely negotiating three bridges. Water prediction software enabled the craft to pass through when the river flow was at its lowest.

Phil (Buffy)

The first flying A380 wing left Broughton on the 5th april. Transported first by road then put on to a barge for its journey down the river Dee to Moysten then by ship to Bordeaux back on to another barge to langon then by road to Toulouse. it takes a bout a month to get a pair of wings from A-B.

Cheers

Phil

Was it Airbus that has to partly sink the boat to get it under a bridge[?]

If not what am I thinking of!!![?]

[Bazz]

Somewhat OT but an interesting fact nonetheless, Hyundai Heavy Industries can build a 300,000 DWT Supertanker (VLCC) or a 170,000 DWT Bulk Carrier in about eight months! They also provide about 15% of the world's shipbuilding capacity.