What a ride it has been. Boeing has finally began to release the long awaited 787 Dreamliner to the world. Once driven by a competition with the Airbus A380 flying behemoth that possesses the capacity potential of over 800 passengers, the 787 seemed to be the forgotten about plane for a period of three years. After several flights stateside, the Dreamliner made it’s debut at the Farnborough Air Show in Great Britain.
I remember in 2007 when Boeing rolled the mock-up of the 787 across hangar yard to applause and excitement, regardless of the fact that the vessel was years from being airworthy. What followed were a series of setbacks that Boeing tried to dismiss as simple fixes.
While many of the orders remained on file, many of the potential customers walked, leaving Boeing hopeful that they could continue to push production forward before even more potentials would walk.
I remember chatting with a gent from Texas who was in Southern California working with Boeing to alleviate some of the “small” problems. Genuinely, they were small problems. Those little headaches that are so annoying to any mechanical fabricator. Regardless, the problems were solved, and with the advent of the age of the 787, Boeing is enjoying an increase in 787 orders.
The wonderful thing about the Dreamliner is the fact that it is a “mid-sized” jet with a phenomenally long range. It is designed to carry between 210-250 passengers, and will operate with unparalleled fuel efficiency for a jet aircraft in its class.
Aesthetically, the 787 just looks like it was built in the 21st century. It’s sleek, the wingspan is incredibly impressive, but possesses such a low profile I have to consider it sexy. Sexy, because sexy is the most mis-and-overused adjective in the English language. One thing passengers will immediately notice is increased comfort in the pressurized cabin. In regular speak, more humidity will equate to less of the gross, dried out feeling after flying.
For all the info. on the 787, the Boeing site offers the hook up, as well as some stellar photos and videos.
(Image via: Aviation Spectator)