I was working on Shaped Metal Deposition (SMD) using Ti 6/4 over 10 years ago. This isn't quite the same as 3D printing of metal parts using l@ser sintering of powders, but gives similar results and is now considered part of the whole 3D printing genre.
Essentially SMD is a robot/computerised welding technique using TIG to build up layers into a near net shape, which then requires very little machining to produce a finished part. The material produced had excellent tensile, fatigue and crack propagation properties far in excess of the castings that this technique was initially looking to replace and akin to forgings.
The technology needed quite a bit of refinement though.
Here's a paper that shows you the material produced.
http://iopscience.iop.org/1757-899X/...6_1_012001.pdf
Info from some sources:
Europe aims for an end to tooling
3ders.org - UK unveils 1.2m titanium wingspar 3D printed in one piece | 3D Printer News & 3D Printing News
Rapid Production of Large Aerospace Components - Transport - Research & Innovation - European Commission
RAPOLAC - Rapid Production of Large Aerospace Components