Vought, which has formed a joint venture with Alenia called Global Aeronautica to handle 7E7 fuselage assembly in Charleston, South Carolina, is optimistic of finalising a definitive contract by the end of December. Vought will produce aft fuselage sections 47 and 48 in a new purpose-built 7E7 site to be co-located with the Global Aeronautic integration site at Charleston International Airport. Work on the two new sites is set to start in early 2005, with the first fuselage to be transported by the converted Boeing 747LCF (large cargo freighter) in early 2007.
The Vought sections will be joined at the Charleston site to the Alenia-built centre fuselage sections 44 and 46, with all major shipments to and from the integration site made using the LCF.
Source: Flight International
