Here’s a quick two minute video from Boeing on assembly of a 737 for Southwest Airlines, it’s worth watching if for nothing other than the painting process!
In real time, this all takes place over about eleven days; which is an extremely fast build time for an airliner. The use of automation and a rolling jig contributes to the capability and pre-positioning of pieces/parts down the line allow a smooth flow of installation in a just-in-time process.
Now for a contrast, at the height of war production, Boeing was building 14+ B-17s A DAY in 1943… BY HAND!
h/t JP
I’m gonna guess that unlike cars, the paint isn’t baked on.
It’s pretty cool to watch, even if they AREN’T B-17s.
Andy- No it’s not, it has a ‘setting’ compound in the urethane paint, and it dries in about 3 hours in ambient conditions. That is why aircraft paint is SO expensive ($600-800 gal with all the additives)!!!
Rev- Yep! 🙂
Boeing makes good aircraft. And the assembly process for the 737 helps that it’s been around for EVER and is now replacing the venerable P-3 with the P-8.
P. S. – I’ve heard that the P-8 may not be delivered in the numbers anticipated and that that Boeing is pushing the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) unmanned platform for the P-8 mission. Though I don’t know if they’re going to mount torpedo(s) on the BAMS. I don’t think that it has the lift capability for that.
Sorry for all of the posts.
I did the math for the Avenger (Predator C). It has a weapons load out capability in an internal bay of 3,000 lbs. The LHT (MK-54) weighs in at 600 lbs. So if they marry the torpedo with a sonobuoy module, who knows? They would be effective against the Kilo and Improved Kilo style boats and their counterparts.
LL- They WANT to deliver the P-8, that is cost wise, MUCH better for Boeing. And BAMS is actually actually an NG product, and yes they are pushing it since the USAF cancelled Block 30!
My brother heads maintenance for a automotive aftermarket paint mixing facility.
There’s that $400 a quart iridescent paint that they keep locked up, a quart of it which went missing.
They found it.
One of the employees drove in a few days later in an iridescent painted hoopdy.
I’m going to hazard a guess there is a lot more tech and electrical (and so more QC required in the build) in a 737 today than there was in a 1943 B17 — and that you wouldn’t want to fly in a 737 that was one of 14 built today!!!!
Yes, I know I’m a smart-ass… couldn’t resist! 🙂
Weren’t the B-24’s cranked out that fast after they finally got Willow Run running?
Very cool! You post such interesting things:)
Ed- Yep, stupidity knows no bounds…
Joey- Actually I’d prefer the B-17 🙂
drjim- I believe they were.
Agirl- Thanks!