Originally Posted by
The SSK
1969-70 ..... The 747s should have been introduced during that period but they were sitting in Seattle with concrete blocks instead of engines.
I recall visiting Everett at that time and actually seeing the BOAC 747s (only theirs) parked outside with the concrete blocks attached, to keep tension on the wings. JT9Ds were in short supply due to snags, and the BOAC aircraft were not being delivered due to a long-running crewing dispute.
Just last year there were pictures of all the 787s built up at Everett awaiting engines, with exactly the same. I did wonder if, after all these years, they were the same concrete blocks !