When building an aircraft, it’s usually the final assembly line that gets all the credit. For
Boeing, this generally means the two facilities in Washington – Renton, and Everett – plus its
South Carolina site. But in reality, parts come from all over the world, and the Boeing 777X is
no different. In this video, we’ll take a closer look at where this plane is actually manufactured.
With the Boeing 777 being the best-selling widebody aircraft to date, it’s no surprise the
upcoming 777X is highly anticipated. The 777X will enter service in 2023, and all eyes are now on the
production and certification of the aircraft. The first two 777X jets went into the final
assembly line at the manufacturer’s Everett plant in Washington in 2018.
But this is just the final assembly where everything comes together.
The parts for the 777X were made long before they reached Everett.
For powerplants, the 777X will exclusively use the GE9X engine from General Electric.
According to GE, the engine is tested and manufactured at specialist locations worldwide,
including Evandale, Ohio, and Massa, Italy. The fan blades and compressor are both tested
in Italy. Interestingly, over 300 of this engine’s parts are made using a 3D printer!
Another notable feature of the Boeing 777X is its folding wingtips. These are made by German
company Liebherr Aerospace. The company has two primary production plants based in Lindenberg,
Germany, and Toulouse, France. Some parts for the 777X come from
even further afield. Boeing recently opened its first office in Hanoi, Vietnam. The manufacturer
already works with a supplier from the country for the doors for the 777X which are assembled
at the MHI Aerospace Vietnam facility. The same facility makes inboard flaps for the Boeing 737.
Parts for the 777X also come from the United Arab
Emirates (UAE). Some of the core components for the jet will be sourced in the UAE,
including the empennage and floor beams and more of the structural parts.
The structure from the UAE will be made of carbon fiber pre-impregnated materials such as epoxy.
Boeing also works with Avic’s Shenyang Commercial Aircraft Corporation to supply parts for the
entire 777 family. The manufacturer’s horizontal stabilizers on the 777s are made in China.
According to the Global Times, over 10,000 Boeing aircraft have parts made in China.
Once you get inside the aircraft, the international input doesn’t stop.
According to airframer.com, UK-based company Ipeco will provide High-Comfort
Attendant Seats for the crew, pilot, and observer seats in the cockpit.
Another major contributor to the Boeing 777X is Collins Aerospace. Based in North Carolina,
the company is working with Boeing on everything from Galley inserts, seating, and air management,
to navigation, flight controls, ice detection, and cargo systems.
The company might be US-based, but it has 150 sites in over 25 countries,
meaning many more parts for the 777X will head to the US for final assembly.
While the Everett plant might get to claim final production,
like all modern aircraft, parts for the 777X will come from all over the world.
Did you know about this global supply chain? Let us know by leaving a comment.