New Boeing 787 Dreamliner

[Mr Orlando]

Just watching Sky News - Boeing are set to unveil the new B 787 Dreamliner in the US.

The first passenger flights will start in 2008 (with Nippon Air using the first)


Boeing allready have over 600 orders allready with 43 customers.

It can carry from 218 to 350 passengers

[squidge]

yeah its supposed to be the greenest aircraft around with 20% less CO2 emmissions than current aircraft. It looks unusual tho!!


Wonder what the configuration will be & how much legroom we will have in economy :D if they ever put them on the orlando route

[Tiggers Friend]

I think Thomas Cook are already advertising the use of the plane for 2008.

Editing to say my info was a bit wrong :mad:

It's actually First Choice and the planes will be introduced in 2009 with wider aisles and more legroom.

[Mr Orlando]

Wonder what the configuration will be & how much legroom we will have in economy :D if they ever put them on the orlando route


that depends on the airline

there are types of this plane for short, mid and long haul routes

[Mickey Mouse]

Virgin Atlantic oringinally put in an order of 15 of this but used 8 of its options making them the biggest European order totaling 22 of these birds, Virgin Atlantic plan to use these to keep expanding to places such as Rio, Vancouver, Melbourne and most recently Hawaii :D

[dmrevis]

Call me cynical but i reckon Virgin only placed an order to fill the gap as the A380 went so far past the projected launch date.

[Mickey Mouse]

id call you half a cynic ;) :p Virgins 787 order will enter service from 2011, finishing delivery in 2014, so in actuall fact the first 5-8 A380's will be in service before probably the last 8-10 787's, the reason Virgin are giving for buying the planes is to Replace the A340 and current 744 fleet by that time some will be getting close to 15-20 years old, (old by Virgins standard avg age is 7.8 years). However i am bius i allways fly Virgin and do agree with SRB* trying to lower co2 emitions and so on, but there is a bad wiff to it, Buying these 787's will surely have something to do with Virgin America, buying from the US helping there economy etc...making the "Virgin" brand name a good thing, secondly the exchange rate, they would be getting value for there money at the moment at least, trying to get The Virgin name green etc, also as the fuel consumption will be better meaning less fuel meaning even more less cash spend by the company(who knows it could be passed on to the pax! :rolleyes: ) and finally what an all round PR stunt for Virgin!

P.S just to add one of Virgins 744 is being tested soon to try and fly it biofuel if this works who knows how long the 747's could fly for!


Theres my pennies worth anyway, puts annorak away :D

*SRB=Sir Richard Branson

[dmrevis]

certainly cant deny that virgin pump money into research and advances in technoligy. However, i cannot see how without MAJOR re-working of the engines that biofuel will work. Its *almost* like changing a petrol engine to run on diesel.

[Mr Orlando]

all ive heard - it uses less fuel

[Mickey Mouse]

yes well i suppose we will find out in *around* a month or 2 time!

[Mr Orlando]

Boeing 787-3 Dreamliner
Fact Sheet
Brief Description:
The Boeing 787-3 Dreamliner is a super-efficient airplane with new passenger-pleasing features. It features a wing and structure optimized for shorter-range flights. It will bring the economics of large jet transports to the middle of the market, using 20 percent less fuel than any other airplane of its size.

Seating:
290 to 330 passengers

Range:
2,500 to 3,050 nautical miles (4,650 to 5,650 kilometers)

Configuration:
Twin aisle

Cross Section:
226 inches (574 centimeters)

Wing Span:
170 feet (52 meters)

Length:
186 feet (57 meters)

Height:
56 feet (17 meters)

Cruise Speed:
Mach 0.85

Maximum Takeoff Weight:
364,000 pounds (165,100 kilograms)

Total Cargo Volume:
4,400 cubic feet

Program milestones:

Authority to offer Late 2003
Certification/Entry into service 2010

[Mr Orlando]

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
Fact Sheet
Brief Description:
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is a super-efficient airplane with new passenger-pleasing features. It will bring the economics of large jet transports to the middle of the market, using 20 percent less fuel than any other airplane of its size.

Seating:
210 to 250 passengers

Range:
7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles (14,200 to 15,200 kilometers)

Configuration:
Twin aisle

Cross Section:
226 inches (574 centimeters)

Wing Span:
197 feet (60 meters)

Length:
186 feet (57 meters)

Height:
56 feet (17 meters)

Flight deck size:
Similar to that of a 777

Cruise Speed:
Mach 0.85

Total Cargo Volume:
4,400 cubic feet

Maximum Takeoff Weight:
484,000 pounds (219,540 kilograms)

Program milestones:

Authority to offer Late 2003
Assembly start 2006
First flight 2007
Certification/Entry into service 2008

[Mr Orlando]

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Fact Sheet
Brief Description:
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is a slightly bigger version of the 787-8. Both are super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. It will bring the economics of large jet transports to the middle of the market, using 20 percent less fuel than any other airplane of its size.

Seating:
250 to 290 passengers

Range:
8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,750 kilometers)

Configuration:
Twin aisle

Cross Section:
226 inches (574 centimeters)

Wing Span:
203 feet (62 meters)

Length:
206 feet (63 meters)

Height:
56 feet (17 meters)

Cruise Speed:
Mach 0.85

Maximum Takeoff Weight:
540,000 lbs (244,940 kg)

Total Cargo Volume:
5,400 cubic feet

Program milestones:
Entry into service in late 2010

[dmrevis]

on the subject of fuel economy, i cant remember who it was but a few years ago there was a very interesting experiment on the aircraft skin. It has always been thought that the outer skin of the aircraft should be as smooth as possible. However some scientists looked at how sharks glided so effortlessly through the water even though they had sandpaper like skin. They covered a plane in this sort of texture and found that fuel economy was increased quite dramatically, due to less drag. However, the costs of the fuel saved was made up by the cost of re-surfacing the aircraft in a fleet so never went any further.

[Mickey Mouse]

saved on fuel though :) good info mr.o

[Buddyelvis]

I think Virgin bought these 787 due to the problems with the A 380 and because airbus had spent so much time on the A380 they have taken the eye of the ball on the development of the A350 which was to be a direct competitor for the Boeing 777/787.

I think if the A380 does not get into service soon so that airbus can concentrate on the a350
airbus are going to have even bigger financial problems as the skies will be full of the 787 and an no one will want the a350

Hope this makes sense

PS I am not a closet part time planespotter :eek:

[dmrevis]

People are forgetting that the 787 still has to undergo full CAA/FAA etc testing. This is where a lot of the problems surfaced with the A380. The 787 could still be just as delayed as the Airbus is now.

[Mickey Mouse]

yeah i think it was a lot to do with the wiring on the A380 aswell :(

[me again]

i work in the aerospace industry and this thing is awesome it has a composite fuselage which is lighter and stronger and dosent need as many service checks so the life of the aircraft is longer.I cannot wait to see one of these flying :D :D