Boeing Assembly Line
- Thread starter Ken N Tx
- Start date
When I worked at United, I toured the Boeing facility in Everett where the big jets are assembled twice. My first tour was the one given by a Boeing employee and the public really only gets to see a very small portion of how the planes are built. My second tour was given by one of the engineers at Boeing. I was with a group of Captains from different airlines and we were allowed on the floor and were able to see the plane developed as it moved down the line. I was really fascinated with that tour.
At the end of the tour, we met with other engineers and they asked us if we had any questions or suggestions to make Boeing jets better. That session took longer than the tour. I asked them if they ever considered mounting a camera or cameras on the outside of the aircraft to allow the pilots a first-hand look at the plane's exterior while in flight. I can think of a few reasons why this would be a good idea. On some of the jets, Boeing did mount a camera on the tail looking forward and then it was shown inside the cabin on monitors that were installed on the backs of seats. This allowed the passengers to watch the takeoff and landing. On most of the jets that I flew, United also allowed passengers to listen in to the conversations between the pilots and air traffic controllers on the radios that were installed in the armrests.
At the end of the tour, we met with other engineers and they asked us if we had any questions or suggestions to make Boeing jets better. That session took longer than the tour. I asked them if they ever considered mounting a camera or cameras on the outside of the aircraft to allow the pilots a first-hand look at the plane's exterior while in flight. I can think of a few reasons why this would be a good idea. On some of the jets, Boeing did mount a camera on the tail looking forward and then it was shown inside the cabin on monitors that were installed on the backs of seats. This allowed the passengers to watch the takeoff and landing. On most of the jets that I flew, United also allowed passengers to listen in to the conversations between the pilots and air traffic controllers on the radios that were installed in the armrests.
Don M.
SF VIP
- Location
- central Missouri
When I joined IBM, in 1968, I worked out of Wichita, KS., for about 4 years, and the huge Boeing plant was my primary account. They were building KC135's at the time. In the Summer of 1969, Boeing brought one of the first 747's to Wichita, and let it sit on the tarmac for several days while they tested the onboard AC and avionics systems under extreme heat conditions. That thing was Huge...I remember seeing it taxi behind a row of large hangars, and the cockpit was higher than the hangars. When it left, a few days later, the entire area was clogged with traffic and onlookers who wanted to see that big plane go airborne.
Sadly, Boeing closed that plant in 2013....after about 85 years of production.
Sadly, Boeing closed that plant in 2013....after about 85 years of production.
