ON December 15, 2009 the Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its maiden flight from Boeing Paine Field in Everett, Washington and after 3 hours 6 minutes landed at Boeing Field Seattle. Capt. Mike Carriker 787 Chief Pilot and Capt. Randy Neville Engineering Test Pilot, tested some of the aircraft's systems and structures, as on-board equipment recorded and transmitted real-time data to a flight-test team at Boeing Field. The aircraft's maiden flight was originally planned for September 2007. The aircraft was originally scheduled to enter service in May 2008, but production had been delayed multiple times, and in August 2009, the scheduled service entry date was pushed back to the fourth quarter of 2010 with first deliveries to All Nippon Airways.
There has been much criticism about the delay of the 787 Dreamliner programme, but people do not appreciate the complexity of the aircraft design and production.
The Dreamliner is the fist all composite aircraft to be ever built. The 787 features lighter-weight construction. Its materials (by weight) are: 50 per cent composite, 20 per cent aluminum, 15 per cent titanium, 10 per cent steel, 5 per cent other. By volume the aircraft is made of 80 per cent composites. Each 787 contains approximately 35 tonne of carbon fiber reinforced plastic, made with 23 tonne of carbon fiber. The 787's all-composite fuselage makes it the first composite airliner in production. The 787 fuselage is made up of composite barrel sections joined end to end. Each fuselage barrel will be manufactured in one piece. This will eliminate the need for some 50,000 fasteners used in conventional aircraft assembly.
Instead of building the complete aircraft from the ground up in the traditional manner, final assembly employs just 800 to 1,200 people to join completed subassemblies and to integrate systems. Boeing has assigned its subcontractors to do more assembly themselves and deliver completed subassemblies to Boeing. Boeing would then perform final assembly. This approach results in a leaner and simpler assembly line and lower inventory.
As the major 787 components have many systems pre-installed before delivery to Everett, final assembly time is reduced to three days. This is less than a quarter of the time traditionally needed for Boeing's final assembly process. In order to speed delivery of the 787's major components, Boeing has modified three Boeing 747s purchased from Chinese and Taiwanese airlines. Called Dreamlifters, these widened aircraft can house the wings and fuselage of the 787 as well as other smaller parts. The Dreamliner is a ture international aircraft as parts are build all over the world.
There are three variants of the 787 and all were first offered for sale in 2004. The 787-8 is to enter service in 2010. The 787-9 will enter service next in 2013. The last to enter service will be the 787-3. Boeing has stated that it is likely to develop another version, the longer 787-10, with seating capacity between 290 and 310.
So far Boeing has received a total of 840 aircraft orders of which Air India will buy 27 and Jet Airways ten. While Air India will take delivery of its first aircraft in the second quarter of 2011, Jet, which has yet to make engine choice, has not announced when it will take delivery of its first aircraft.
Whatever the case maybe, but the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has taken its wings. Boeing's dreams have come true with its fist flight.
