The Engineer is more wrong than correct as are many of the comments posted here. The Renton production site only has two paint hangars and prior to the current production line stoppage those two paint hangars can't paint 2 planes a day that rolled off the line. So, more aircraft fly away unpainted to several other locations. There are 4 paint hangars in Seattle at Boeing Field. 3rd party companies also paint 737's in Spokane,WA, Victorville, CA and New Iberia, LA. The TPC (Temporary Protective Coating)is primarily to protect the aluminum during the manufacturing process. I can assure you it does not help to identify skin defects. It hides many defects that are often found after the TPC is solvent (Alkasol 27) washed off the aircraft in preparation for paint.
This BBJ 700 was originally built for DJC (Beijing Capital Airlines Company). Why it remains unpainted and what it's current mission is very interesting.
What bigotry? Certain airlines DO have poor records. There is nothing bigoted about avoiding problematic airlines. What an idiotic typical left wing comment that boils everything to race.
Exactly correct. It is the STATE of Washington providing incentives to Boeing to expand and maintain it's work force in the STATE. Boeing will receive rebates from the state for investing billions in expanding it's facilities and airplane programs. This is NOT some form of Federal funding of new development which would be similar to what the multiple governments in Europe that do provide direct funding for Airbus.
I only fly a few times each year and for the last five years or so, I've found Delta to have the lowest prices and preferred times for my given travel. I've had no negative issues other than they keep retiring their 767's and replacing them with 737's. I much prefer the wide bodies for cross country than the single aisle's.
The A380 can only be operated out of a handful of USA airports. Being able to fly around the USA fundraising in as many places as possible is a top mission criteria that the A380 can't do.
