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How much do you have to spend on logistics so you end up paying $1 billion for a special plane program? Is transportation of parts is so speed-sensitive in plan

How much do you have to spend on logistics so you end up paying $1 billion for a special plane program? Is transportation of parts is so speed-sensitive in plane manufacturing industry that you couldn't possibly use some other kind of transport?

TylerE 7y ago
Once you get over a certain size it's really hard to move things by conventional means, especially if you need your cargo to be protected from the elimates. Airplanes have a major advantage of not needing to fit through tunnels, under powerlines, or around corners.
samatman 7y ago
This is actually a good question. The answer is that Airbus is a consortium, a prestige project of the European Union. One consequence of this, is that parts are manufactured in multiple countries, at a considerable distance from one another, as opposed to the more consolidated approach taken by Boeing. Therefore, they have a unique need to ship very large and somewhat delicate parts from place to place. The Beluga is a consequence of this.
- masklinn 7y ago
  > One consequence of this, is that parts are manufactured in multiple countries, at a considerable distance from one another, as opposed to the more consolidated approach taken by Boeing. FWIW Boeing built a similar plane (the 747-400 LCF / 747 Dreamlifter) to move 787 parts from suppliers, as they were considered too large for marine shipping and existing cargo planes. The biggest difference is LCF is a conversion from regular 747s (though according to wikipedia the program cost the same $1bn, being built from a much heavier plane the Dreamlifter has much higher capacity but somewhat lower volume in its similarly unpressurised hold).
  - baud147258 7y ago
    The beluga (both the previous version and the XL one) are both derived from other Airbus planes (A300 & A330)
    - masklinn 7y ago
      The belugas are derived from exiting frames but Airbus programs of their own. The Dreamlifter is a straight up conversion of second-hand 747-400s by a contracted third-party (Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation).

TylerE 7y ago

Once you get over a certain size it's really hard to move things by conventional means, especially if you need your cargo to be protected from the elimates. Airplanes have a major advantage of not needing to fit through tunnels, under powerlines, or around corners.

samatman 7y ago

This is actually a good question. The answer is that Airbus is a consortium, a prestige project of the European Union. One consequence of this, is that parts are manufactured in multiple countries, at a considerable distance from one another, as opposed to the more consolidated approach taken by Boeing. Therefore, they have a unique need to ship very large and somewhat delicate parts from place to place. The Beluga is a consequence of this.

masklinn 7y ago
> One consequence of this, is that parts are manufactured in multiple countries, at a considerable distance from one another, as opposed to the more consolidated approach taken by Boeing. FWIW Boeing built a similar plane (the 747-400 LCF / 747 Dreamlifter) to move 787 parts from suppliers, as they were considered too large for marine shipping and existing cargo planes. The biggest difference is LCF is a conversion from regular 747s (though according to wikipedia the program cost the same $1bn, being built from a much heavier plane the Dreamlifter has much higher capacity but somewhat lower volume in its similarly unpressurised hold).
- baud147258 7y ago
  The beluga (both the previous version and the XL one) are both derived from other Airbus planes (A300 & A330)
  - masklinn 7y ago
    The belugas are derived from exiting frames but Airbus programs of their own. The Dreamlifter is a straight up conversion of second-hand 747-400s by a contracted third-party (Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation).