The Boeing Company
(NYSE: BA) today delivered its 1,400th 747, a 747-400 Freighter delivered
to GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) for lease to AirBridgeCargo
Airlines, a subsidiary of the Volga-Dnepr Group.
"We are honored to receive the 1,400th Boeing 747," said Gennady
Pivovarov, senior vice president of Production, AirBridgeCargo Airlines.
"The 747 is a high-quality, reliable airplane that plays a critical role in
our success."
The 1,400th 747 is the seventh 747 freighter in the AirBridgeCargo
Airlines fleet, joining five 747-200/-300 Freighters and a 747-400
Freighter. The Volga-Dnepr Group also has ordered five of Boeing's new
747-8 Freighters, the highly efficient and more capable next model in the
747 freighter family.
"This milestone speaks to the strong foundation laid at the very
beginning of the 747 program," said Ross R. Bogue, vice president and
general manager, 747 program and Everett site. "Boeing has delivered seven
times more airplanes than the initial market estimate of 200 units, which
was projected when the 747 entered service. This is a tribute to the hard
work and dedication that our Boeing employees, suppliers and the community
have put into this program."
The 1,400 747 airplanes assembled at the Everett site have established
a strong track record. The 747 has completed more than 17 million flights
through 2007. It has logged approximately 89 million flight hours or more
than 10,000 years of flight time. The airplanes have flown approximately 42
billion nautical miles (78 billion kilometers), which is equivalent to
making nearly 203,000 trips to the moon.
The airplane's accomplishments will continue to grow as the program
builds out the remaining industry-leading 747-400 Freighters and begins
production of the new 747-8 family. Boeing will deliver the first 747-8
Freighter in late 2009 and the first 747-8 Intercontinental in late 2010.
"We can all take great pride in the achievements the 747 has made and
will continue to make with the new 747-8," Bogue said. "The Boeing 747 has
an unparalleled record of reliability, which is illustrated by the number
of airplanes in service today."
SOURCE The Boeing Company
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