Boeing 747-8 Hits ‘Horrendous’ Setback

[marmar]

(Bloomberg) Boeing Co. (BA) had to postpone next week’s inaugural delivery of the 747-8 freighter, a jet already two years behind schedule, after its initial customer refused to accept the first two planes.

Boeing had to cancel three days’ worth of ceremonies and events beginning Sept. 19 because of “unresolved issues” with Cargolux Airlines International SA, said spokesman Jim Proulx. He declined to comment further on the reason for the dispute. The carrier was scheduled to fly its first load of freight on the new plane out of Seattle that same day.

The clash mars the arrival of the newest and biggest version of the jumbo jet that, with its iconic hump, has been Boeing’s marquis model since its inception in the 1960s. It also comes after numerous struggles at the company, including a three-year setback to its 787 Dreamliner, inroads into its customer base by Airbus SAS and a shift in its new-jet strategy.

“It’s horrendous,” said Ken Herbert, an analyst with Wedbush Securities in San Francisco, in an interview yesterday. “Just when you finally thought they were going to turn the corner, this happens.” ..............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-17/boeing-747-8-hits-horrendous-setback-as-buyer-delays-delivery.html

[onethatcares]

1. just reading the article makes me want to walk or drive to wherever

this plane is going to fly in its passenger carrying incarnation. I do not want to be on a plane with 467 other people, I just don't want to do that no matter how safe the plane is, no matter how courteous the flight crew is, no matter how many free drinks they will give out. Nope, ain't gonna do it.

If that means no go to Europe or Asia, oh well, ain't gonna do it.

[Fumesucker]

2. That's "marquee model" not "marquis model"..

/Commander Nitpick

[Blue_Tires]

3. has to be some last-minute wrangling over the financials

it's not like the aircraft is unsafe or untested...

further discussion:
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5256873/

[ixion]

4. I have no pity for Boeing

None. Zip. They're just another cog in the war machine, as far as I'm concerned.

[arikara]

5. It sounds like a Microsoft Vista model

I don't think I'll be flying in one. I'll stick to the older planes.

The setbacks to the model are due in part to the 787 Dreamliner. Engineers were diverted to work on the composite- plastic Dreamliner as struggles with the new materials and its production system caused what amounted to seven delays. Flight tests then revealed other problems, including flutter in the wings and buffeting around the wheel wells, which had to be resolved. And work on the new flight-management computer extended the length of flight testing, eventually forcing Boeing to scale back the system to avoid further delays. A software upgrade is planned later.

[msongs]

6. Boeing is paying a severe price for outsourcing its technology and manufacturing nt

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

7. Cargolux is demanding compensation because Boeing missed fuel efficiency promises

It burns 4% more fuel than promised,