The Italian Aerospace Information Web
by Aeromedia - corso Giambone 46/18 - 10135 Torino (Italy)

Dreamlifter Lands in Italy for the First Time

On March 21, 2007, at about 09:30 A.M., local time, the Boeing Dreamlifter has landed for the first time in Italy. The huge cargo aircraft, an highly-modified B.747-400, has arrived at Taranto/Grottaglie airport to ferry to USA the main fuselage parts, manufactured by Alenia Aeronautica, destined to the B.787 Dreamliner prototype. These major assemblies will be delivered, as planned, to Global Aeronautica (a joint-venture between Alenia North America and Vought Aircraft Industries) in Charleston, South Carolina.

The first Boeing B.747-400 Dreamlifter (previously known as Large Cargo Freighter) took off for the first time, from Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan, on September 9, 2006. Two Dreamlifters are now undergoing the FAA certification phase, while the third item of the fleet is under modification by Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp., part of Taiwan's Evergreen Group.

In the picture: Very first image of the Dreamlifter landing at Grottaglie airport, under rainy skies, on March 21, 2007. (Barrera/Aeromedia)

(Aeromedia, March 2006)