Boeing’s largest aircraft, the Dreamlifter (by volume), keeps the 787 program humming
The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter is a modified wide-body cargo aircraft from the Boeing 747-400. Its unusual shape resembles the Oscar Meyer Weiner mobile or a beluga whale. The Dreamlifter boasts the world’s largest cargo hold at 65,000 cubic feet. It uses the world’s longest cargo loader to receive cargo. Boeing uses it exclusively to transport 787 Dreamliner parts to assembly plants. The Dreamlifter plays a crucial role in Boeing’s global supply chain.
Introduced in 2007, the Dreamlifter carries oversized cargo for the 787 program. Boeing has manufactured four Dreamlifters, all converted from 747-400s. The swing-fuselage allows removal of large 787 parts in one piece. This unique feature sets the Dreamlifter apart from other cargo planes. The aircraft’s massive size enables efficient transport of bulky components. Boeing’s innovative design has revolutionized aerospace logistics. The Dreamlifter continues to support Boeing’s manufacturing processes worldwide.
Dreamlifter is a Frankenstein of engineering
The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter was conceived when it was realized the the shipping of airplane parts is time consuming, especially when large pieces like wings and fuselages have to travel between Japan, Italy, and America’s east and west coasts. With the new aircraft, the time it takes to get airplane parts of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Japan to America is reduced from 30 days to just 8 hours.
Between its first flight in 2006 and its FAA certification, the Dreamlifter aircraft completed 437 hours of flight testing, and 639 hours of ground testing. The Boeing 747 Dreamlifter LCF was granted FAA certification on June 2nd of 2007.
The aircraft now flies regularly between Japan, Italy and the US to deliver parts. You can commonly see the aircraft at US airports near Seattle, Charleston, S.C and Wichita, Kansas.
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