When it comes to moving large loads, it's usually a matter of a few hundred pounds or even a few thousand in some unusual cases. But that certainly wasn't the case for Boeing Co. It needed to move a 747-400F airframe that weighed 675,000 pounds without using the plane's own power systems.

But the challenge didn't stop there. The airframe had to be moved 300 feet from the tarmac into an existing hangar that was barely big enough for its new resident. As a result, the nose of the airframe had to be positioned to +/- 1 inch and there were only 3 feet of clearance at each wingtip. Furthermore, the entire load needed to be moved into position at a 45 degree angle because the hangar's door was not wide enough to take the plane nose on.

To do the job, AeroGo Inc. placed the airframe on a low-profile, battery-powered support platform that used a frictionless film of air to slowly move, rotate and position the airframe. Just as important, the move was made in just one day without nicking the sides of the hangar.