Boeing has formally donated the first 787 to Nagoya Chubu Centrair International airport, in a ceremony on 7 July.
"It is fitting that we bring Boeing's first-ever 787 Dreamliner, also known as ZA001, back home to Nagoya, the heart of Japan's aerospace industry," says George Maffeo, president of Boeing Japan.
ZA001 first flew on 15 December 2009 and performed various ground and flight tests, focusing on aerodynamics, flight controls and system performance, says the airframer.
“ZA001 carried all of our dreams and aspirations, and has grown to symbolize the storied partnership between Boeing and Japan's outstanding aerospace industry," adds Maffeo.
Randy Tinseth/Boeing
Boeing cites that 60 airline customers around the world have ordered more than 1,100 787s. And in Japan alone, both All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines account for 128 of the type.
Japan's aerospace industry plays a major role in the 787 programme. A Mitsubishi Heavy Industries factory in Nagoya makes the 787 family's composite wings. Another Nagoya factory complex, run by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, produces the aircraft's forward fuselage section.
The 787's centre wing box is also produced in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries.
Boeing has already two other 787-8 test aircraft. ZA002 went to the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Ariz. and ZA003 went to the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
