Why Boeing’s Dreamlifter uses McConnell Air Force Base for key fuselage transport

Unlike most major aerospace factories located at civil airports, Spirit AeroSystems operates next to McConnell Air Force Base. This arrangement requires Dreamlifters to use the military airport for picking up fuselage sections before transporting them primarily to Charleston, South Carolina—currently home to Boeing’s only final assembly line for the 787 Dreamliner after production ceased in Washington state during the pandemic.

Boeing's global supply chain has faced several difficulties over time. Relying on international contractors introduced risks related not only to quality control but also geopolitical issues and disruptions such as pandemics or trade conflicts. In response, Boeing is moving toward greater oversight of its supply chain by acquiring Spirit AeroSystems in an $8.3 billion deal aimed at improving safety and quality management systems.

Flight tracking data shows that Dreamlifters have made multiple trips between Wichita and Charleston throughout 2025. Occasionally these flights include stops at other locations such as Anchorage before continuing their journey.

There have been operational mishaps involving the Dreamlifter fleet; notably in 2013 when a pilot mistakenly landed at Colonel James Jabara Airport instead of McConnell Air Force Base—a confusion attributed partly to similar runway layouts among nearby airports.

Currently, four Dreamlifters are in service—all converted from used passenger or freighter versions originally flown by Malaysia Airlines, Air China, or China Airlines. They are now between 33 and 35 years old but remain integral to transporting large aircraft components worldwide. Along with McConnell AFB (IAB), these aircraft frequently operate through five other airports: Anchorage (ANC), Everett (PAE), Charleston (CHS), Nagoya (NGO) in Japan, and Taranto (TAR) in Italy.

As of now, there are no announced plans for replacing these aging yet crucial aircraft within Boeing’s logistics operations.