Boeing

Boeing Business Jets Delivers First BBJ 2 Despite Shaky Ground in Seattle

Boeing Business Jets today announced the delivery of its first Boeing Business Jet 2 (BBJ 2). Scheduled to deliver on Feb. 28, its undisclosed customer was on board the BBJ 2 just 10 minutes before departure when a 6.8 earthquake hit the Seattle area.

The airplane was unaffected, but runway damage to King County International Airport (Boeing Field) prevented it from departing until March 3, when it flew to Georgetown, Del., leaving from only 4,700 feet of useable runway. The second BBJ 2 delivers this week to another undisclosed customer. After installation of auxiliary fuel tanks and winglets at the Decrane Aircraft Systems Integration Group PATS Inc. facility in Georgetown, both airplanes will fly to completion centers.

"The delivery of the first BBJ 2 is another a positive step forward for the Boeing Business Jets program," said Boeing Business Jets President Borge Boeskov. "In developing a family of business jets specifically designed to meet the increasing travel needs of global leaders, we've proven our commitment to the market. Our customers asked for increased cabin and luggage space, and that's exactly what we offer with the BBJ 2."

Announced in October 1999, the BBJ 2 is based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 and is 19.2 feet (5.85 meters) longer than the 737-700 fuselage on which the BBJ is based. It has 25 percent more interior space and twice the luggage space of the BBJ. The range is 5,750 nautical miles (10,650 kilometers). The BBJ 2 is expected to account for 25 percent of Boeing Business Jets' total sales.

With cruising speeds of up to .82 Mach - equivalent to a ground speed of 550 miles per hour - the BBJ and BBJ 2 can serve such routes as Los Angeles to London or Paris, New York to Buenos Aires, Argentina, or London to Johannesburg, South Africa. The same General Electric CFM56-7 engines used on the Next-Generation 737 commercial airplanes power the BBJ and BBJ 2.

Both airplanes provide unsurpassed levels of space, comfort and utility, and are backed by a top-notch product support program with dedicated field service representatives around the world.

Boeing Business Jets is a joint venture with General Electric launched in July 1996 to respond to market demand for a larger, more capable business airplane that can fly more than 6,000 nautical miles. There currently are 26 completed BBJs in service.

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For further information:
Patricia York
(206) 662-5052