30 . August . 2009

The trip to the Boeing Factory at Everett was just a blast! 
Though it was my 2nd visit, it was still one of those trip that I got all excited about and not want to leave.  

Driving cross the border to US had always been frustrating . . . 
The estimated time on the electronic bill board near the end of Hwy 99 was 50 mins.  Well, we ended up
getting stuck in line for 1.5 hours.  Seriously, I don't get why the government would invest so much of our tax money
on the stupid online system and electronic bill board while they are not even close to accurate.  While my friend
browsed the border website for the estimated time using his iPhone, it said no delay =.="  These stupid estimate system
don't even add value for us.  There is really no difference for having or not having these estimated stuff . . . 

Anyways, we were quite behind schedule and we arrived at the Boeing Factory by around 12 pm.  
The moment I drove into the parking, a beautiful JAL B777 was landing right in front of us on the runway.  
The next spectacular moment was the ANA B787-8 that was parked beside the runway!  My long wait 
to see the real B787 . . .   !  Then, far away, parked another B787 with the simplified livery (for the purpose of flight test).  
It was just surprising that I saw 2 of them, as I always expected to see at most one.  

As the tour bus drove us into the restricted gates, we passed by the ANA B787 that we saw at the parking (thatz the
2nd B787 built btw) and a B777-F parked right beside the ANA 787 (thatz the 1st B777 freighter ever built btw). 
The most surprising moment came when I realized that the tour actually brings us not only to the B747 hanger (which was 
the rundown of my last visit), but also to the B787 and B777 hangers  !  As we entered the B747 hangers, the guide told us
that the last B747-400 just rolled out.  I was surprised that I actually get to see the B747-8!  So in the hangar, we saw the 
1st B747-8 passenger and freighters on the production line being assembled.  Interestingly, I realized that the Cargo version 
had a shorter upper deck.  

As we leave the B747s, I was already all excited about whats coming up next on the rundown, the B777 and B787 hangers.  
Interestingly, both products share the same hanger =.="  My heart was just so excited, so excited that I just had to 
YELL OUT LOUD IN MY HEART.  Well, you know I had to pretend to stay calm.  Otherwise I will not only freak 
my friends out, but also the other 30 people within our tour group LoL!  And so, we took the engines elevator up to L4, 
and "ta daa," lots and lots of B787s sitting on the production line  !  On the 777 side, there was the Emirate, done with 
its engines and ready to roll out.  Next behind the Emirates was CX's 29th 777, waiting for its engines to be plugged to the 
wings.  And, there were a few more behind in the process of assembling.  On the B787 side, there were 2 ANAs and a few 
with the Boeing livery.  Most of them had their wings kinda in the process of fixing up at the attachments.  I would assume 
thats related to the recent wing structural problem that the Boeing discovered.  Well, I do hope that they can fix it on time 
and have its delayed first flight by end of 2009 (as announced).  

Anyways, it was a 90 min tour after all, and we had to leave . . . And you realized that I dun have any pictures at the hangers . . .
Well, it really sucked to disallow cams, cells, etc during the tour .  BUT, we did took some shots outside the restricted gates.

Today, I finally went for Julie & Julia.  I have to say that I really enjoyed it and its another movie that I really love 
after Ratatouille.  With this, I realized that I do enjoy cooking related movies a lot!  Probably its because I really love 
to eat LoL!  Highly recommend it!  Well, but if you are those who enjoys those actions and stabbings and killings movies, 
still watch it but dun expect it to be "Exciting."  While watching those trailer previews prior to the movie, theres this upcoming 
movie, one of those ridiculous movie that talks about the end of Earth and human beings, blah blah, with buildings all 
clashing down the sea flooding the Earth and the attacks to kill all humans.  I seriously dun get why people would want 
to make such movies?  They really want the Earth to be torn down and we will all be killed?  And, they think that we humans 
dun have enough worries on careers, families, money, etc, and now they wanna add another worry about the Death of all
human by 2012?  Anyways, only my opinion . . . I know these are just Movies . . . but I just think that movies can affect 
our thinking a lot . . .!  Imagine a kid watching this movie, or even the trailer.  Kid: Mom we will all die soon?? 
Mom: No son, its just a movie!  Kid: But, the movie says so . . .!  Mom: Its just a movie, its not real! 
Kid: But the people predicted that it will happen . . . =.=" and on and on with the creative imaginations of kids . . .
making them worried and confused that the World will end? =.="   

ANA B787-8 . 2nd B787 Built . (ANA will be the 1st to fly the B787 Commercial route)
 

B787-8 in the simplified Flight Test livery