Chasing New Orders, Boeing Eyes Faster Production

As Boeing throttles up its campaign for the first international sale of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, company officials are promising to significantly cut the delivery time for new orders.

The company hopes to shave three months off the time between an order being placed and delivery, says Tony Parasida, F/A-18 VP. Boeing currently takes about 32 months to build one of the strike fighters for the U.S. Navy.

The faster times would be a result of several factors, Parasida says. One is the simple learning curve being gained at the various production sites. Another is a cost reduction initiative Boeing has been pursuing in recent months. The goal of that effort has been to bring the Super Hornet's cost to about $50 million.

Achieving the cost target could be impacted by U.S. Navy plans to buy the aircraft. Those numbers have been in flux as the service is struggling with financial problems within the Pentagon. Parasida believes they'll meet the cost goal regardless, by making the production process more efficient and redesigning components for easier assembly.

The U.S. order backlog means that it would take about 24 months before forward fuselage work could commence on new-order aircraft. Parts fabrication would start in around 18 months.

A couple of two-seat F/A-18Fs are at Paris to support Boeing's marketing efforts. One is in the daily flying routine-flown by Boeing test and demonstration pilot Mike Bryan-while the other is displayed statically.

The F/A-18s at Paris belong to VFA-122, the Navy training squadron preparing pilots for the first operational cruise of an all single-seat F/A-18E squadron (VFA-115) on the USS Abraham Lincoln next year.

The aircraft here left the U.S. June 6 and took a detour en route to Paris for an appearance in Finland. As an operator of older F/A-18s, Boeing has its eyes on the Nordic country as a potential customer for the newer version. Other existing F/A-18 users are seen as the most likely candidates to buy the Super Hornet.