I must be Dreaming.

The 787, Dreamliner, is Boeing's latest and most state of the art aircraft.  It is the first aircraft to be mainly composed of composites and durable plastics.  After three years of delays the first Dreamliner was just handed over to All Nippon Airways.  It is the aircraft that is projected to have fuel savings up to 20% which is critical for airline operators operating with such small profit margins.  It also has greater comforts than its predecessors such as windows that shade over replace normal plastic blinds, cabin pressures closer to sea-level, better seats, and many other perks awaiting travelers.

The origin of the 787 came from Boeing’s projection of air travel in the coming years.  Boeing is forecasting a growth from 3,640 twin aisle aircraft to 8,570 in 2030.  This coupled with airlines demands for more efficient and profitable aircraft is a large driving force behind Boeing to develop the 787.  It will be made into two variants, the -8 and -9, with seating ranging from around 200-300 people depending on cabin configuration.  It will boast a range greater than 8200 – 8500 nautical miles.  This longer range capability allows more point to point service as opposed to the hub-and-spoke model.  It also gives airlines the options of retiring some older less efficient aircraft of comparable size while potentially making a route much more profitable.

Boeing also did the manufacturing of this aircraft on a global scale.  Parts were brought in from all over the world on 4 specially designed Boeing Dreamlifters, which are modified 747-400’s (Photo).  The reason Boeing did this was to spread risk among its suppliers and to find the best engineering talent.  However, due to logistical problems, language barriers, and outsourcing of the outsourced work played a part in the 787 falling years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget.  All of these smaller problems created a domino effect that kept pushing the aircraft delivery date back as cited in this article in business week.  Introducing so many variables to building an aircraft will be more likely to create delays, especially the first time anyone tries using this method.

Boeing also has ambitions to produce 10 aircraft per month by the end of 2013.  This will be done by two plants.  One factory in Everett, Washington will make seven Dreamliners per month and the other three in a new facility in Charleston South Carolina.  However the National Labor Review Board is in a legal battle with Boeing about the building of a non-union plant in South Carolina.  For more information please follow this link.

This new aircraft has not gone unnoticed by Boeing's rival Airbus.  Although the A380 has just taken to the skies Airbus has been developing the A350 to challenge the 787.  Aircraft manufacturers will listen to what their customers want and try to deliver an aircraft capable of making the airlines a profit.  The risk of doing something for the first time can stop a company from attempting a new cutting edge project.  The questions and risks in building the 787 (and the A380) could have a crippling financial effect on a company if the project is a failure.

Although Boeing isn’t at full scale production with the 787, it is finally here.  I am extremely excited in the advancements that Boeing has made with this aircraft and will be following in very carefully.  With Boeing having 821 orders from countries all over the globe many airlines are counting on Boeing to deliver with their product:  An aircraft that will fly more cost efficiently and provide more comfort to its passengers.