You might want to mark Sunday 8 July in your diary, because there's a good chance that a certain US airframer will be opening its doors and proudly wheeling out its new toy.
"A little bit of a coincidence - imagine that," says Boeing 787 programme manager Mike Bair, referring with not-entirely-convincing innocence to the date as it appears on American calendars: 07-08-07. Given that roll-out of the 787 is scheduled for July, there can't be a single PR representative between Chicago and Seattle whose lips aren't quivering at the publicity potential afforded by this bit of chronological good fortune.
But with the echoes of hasty backpedalling yet to fade in Toulouse, Boeing is well aware of the pitfalls of leaving yourself with little margin to cope with unforeseen circumstances. I suspect that 'coincidence' will remain the official line right up until Boeing manages to pull its first polished 787 out into the Everett sunshine on the second Sunday in July, at which point, I'm sure, the scallywags will probably claim it was planned that way all along.
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