Dreamlifter arrives, delivers major 787 piece

Boeing's oversized freighter, the Dreamlifter, landed at Paine Field at 6:30 Tuesday evening with its first delivery of a major 787 section. By 7:45 the tail of the modified plane had swung fully open to reveal the massive cargo hold, only a small portion of it occupied by the pieces of the first horizontal tail.

The tail section, built by Alenia Aeronautica, arrived from southern Italy after following a refueling stop in Scotland.

The horizontal tail is made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic in Alenia's plant in Foggia..

Because of its size, it is arriving in five segments — two wing-like fixed structures, two moveable edges and the center piece — all held in a 42-foot-long shipping frame.

These will be assembled by Boeing mechanics in Everett into a part that is 32 feet by 62 feet.

Boeing expects the other big sections of the first airplane to arrive here within a couple of weeks. Final assembly of the first 787 is due to be completed for a scheduled rollout on July 8.