Sections of 787 are unloaded at Everett, where Boeing has its final assembly plant for the Dreamliner. The all-composite forward section, wrapped in white and known as section 41, is manufactured by Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, while behind it are sections 47 and 48 produced by Vought Aircraft Industries in Charleston.

A couple watch the impressive sight of a Dreamlifter taking off from Prestwick. The aircraft are frequent visitors to this Scottish airport, which is used as refuelling stop between Italy and the US.

By using the Dreamlifter for carrying outsize loads, Boeing is following the example set by Airbus of transporting parts between production sites by air. For many years the European consortium used the Super Guppy, though the type has now been replaced by the A300-600ST Super Transporter.

This photo of Dreamlifter N780BA, helps to illustrate the extent to which the fuselage of the original 747-400 has been altered. This angle also shows one of the hinges at the rear for the swing-tail.

A view of the cavernous interior of a Dreamlifter, which has a volume of 65,000 cuft. Four of these aircraft will eventually be in service when Dreamliner production ramps up.