Following the Dreamliner’s successful Dec. 15 first flight, at least 100 local parts suppliers are waiting for production to ramp up for Boeing’s 787 so they can start putting people to work, and there are more outside of the state. Boeing’s 840 orders for the 787 represent a record backlog and while testing is ongoing and first deliveries aren’t expected until the end of 2010, that doesn’t mean the company isn’t already building the jets. Boeing has already sent 10 of its 787 Dreamliners down the production line and is shooting for 10 per month by 2012. Literally hundreds of companies (329 are noted by Airframer.com) are involved in the big jet program and that means the long-delayed return on the investments in equipment and training at many of those companies is soon going to translate into jobs.
The Web site Airframer.com lists suppliers. Boeing said Tuesday that it intends to deliver the first 787 to All Nippon Airways of Japan.
