1st SC-made Boeing Dreamliner to roll out April 27

Boeing will roll out the first 787 Dreamliner assembled in South Carolina on April 27, the company announced Wednesday evening.

A major milestone for the local plane-making operation, the rollout represents the historic jet’s official debut after months of work inside the North Charleston facility and at least as much buzz outside.

Workers began putting the pieces together at the massive North Charleston facility last summer. In the meantime, the first 787 was delivered out of Boeing’s main Dreamliner factory in Washington State, and the National Labor Relations Board litigation that cast a cloud over the local plant was resolved.

Boeing executives and employees will be joined at the day-long event by South Carolina dignitaries, and media hailing from far outside the Lowcountry will be on hand. The ceremony will include community partner performances, commemorative videos and executive presentations, according to release.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Jim Albaugh previewed the event on March 14 when he told a New York investor conference that the inaugural Dreamliner would roll out in mid-April.

The North Charleston plant, which employs more than 6,000 people, is one of only three places in the world that makes wide-body commercial airplanes.

Reach Brendan Kearney at 937-5906.