Return of the pickle

MOSES LAKE — Eagle-eyed passers-by could see a familiar sight at Grant County International Airport earlier this week.

Boeing used the airport to flight-test one of its 747 Large Cargo Freighters, also known as the Dreamlifter, designed to haul various components of its 787 plane from around the world to the plant in Everett.

The plane first landed at the airport in September 2006.

At the time, Air America owner Larry Godden said the plane was referred to unofficially as "the pickle," due to its temporary green color.

"The green's a primer," Air America Line Service Manager Harold Gugin said. "It keeps the aircraft from rusting before the paint goes onto it."

Godden said the plane is probably beyond a restricted category because people are flying on the plane, but it's still experimental.

"A lot of what they're doing (Monday) is autopilot work," Gugin said. "That's why they're doing touch and goes and changing the weight."

Gugin expects the plane to be in and out of the airport over the next few months.

Godden said the airport's assets for such testing include the long runway, good weather and light air traffic.

"Lighter than we'd like, actually," Godden said.

"It's bad for us in Moses Lake, the light traffic, but it's good for them because they get more flight testing done, work done," Gugin added.

Godden said Air America has supported all of Boeing's flight test programs, and sees the company remaining for the foreseeable future.