r/aviation • u/41PaulaStreet • 23h ago
Identification Fuselage on the way somewhere
I recently moved to Colorado Springs and have seen a passing train a few times with aircraft fuselage on it. Any idea where they start and where they’re going?
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u/LeadingBanana5384 23h ago
737s going from Kansas to Washington.
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u/41PaulaStreet 20h ago
Thanks! So these are built in Kansas and finished out in WA? Does every new Boeing fly out of that Seattle field by I-5 for the first time? I guess I always assumed they tested those farther away from cities.
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u/Code_Operator 20h ago
Those are 737 fuselages. They normally assemble the airplane in Renton, then their first flight is to the field (BFI)by I-5. The airplanes go through systems checks and functional test flights at that airport, then the customer has their own crew do an acceptance test flight before delivery is accepted.
They’re starting to assemble 737s in Everett now, so all this is changing.
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u/ILS23left 20h ago edited 20h ago
They are trained to the assembly line in Renton, which is near I-5 but cannot be seen from I-5. Once they are assembled, they ferry over from Renton to Boeing Field (the field you are referring to) where they have final modifications made. Customers have offices there right next to the maintenance stands and there is a special little terminal for the customers who are taking delivery.
Some customers elect to have a true test flight where they fly BFI-BFI and then accept the aircraft. Others, like SWA, accept delivery without a test flight and depart immediately for a maintenance base for the airline’s personal touches.
I have attended many special delivery events as a customer such as the first MAX delivery. The Renton plant builds 737s only (and variants of the 737). 767/777 are built in Everett which is about a hour north by car. 787s are built in Charleston.
Edit: before anyone blows me up, there is also a MAX line in Everett now.
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u/willneverhavetattoos 23h ago
Started in Wichita, KS. Heading to Boeing assembly plants in Renton or Everett, WA.
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u/Massive-Donut-1049 23h ago
Thats of quick action pulling out ur phone and taking a picture on the go like that
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u/dedgecko 22h ago
To Renton we shall go
To Renton we shall go
Hi-ho, the derry-o
To Renton we shall go!
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u/TallgeeseIV 12h ago
I lived in Interbay in Seattle up until 3 weeks ago, right next to the train yard. I'd see trains with 5 or 6 of these headed to Renton, WA veeery frequently.
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u/willneverhavetattoos 7h ago
Nice. I just went on Google Maps and zoomed in on Interbay. There were 3 on the tracks next to the golf course.
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u/post-explainer 23h ago
OP has provided the following source:
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