Boeing Gets A Paint Job

The new Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER, unveiled at Boeing’s paint hangar facility in Seattle, is the world’s largest commercially operated aircraft to be painted entirely in black. The special paint job took Boeing just over a week (two days longer than a standard 777 paint job) and 14 painters worked 24 hour shifts. Boeing vice president of the Everett Delivery Center Jeff Klemann said: “It was, without a doubt, one of the most challenging paint jobs we’ve ever done, but the paint team was up for the challenge and the results are absolutely outstanding.” Air New Zealand is hoping to take delivery of this special 777-300ER in late January 2012. By mid next year, the airline plans to have six additional planes painted in the all black livery, including two Airbus A320s and three Beech 1900D turbo-props.