SEATTLE (AP) — Boeing Co. says it's getting close to completing final design work on its new 777 freighter and projects it will start assembling the first one early next year at its widebody plant north of Seattle.
Suppliers have started producing parts and major components for the plane, which Boeing says will fly farther and offer more capacity than any other twin-engine freighter.
The plane's range will be more than 5,600 miles with a payload capacity of more than 226,000 pounds.
The first will be delivered to Air France in the fourth quarter of 2008.
So far, Boeing has won 82 orders for the 777 freighter from 11 customers.