Boeing 787 Dreamliner

[Simon 3]

You'll have to pay for prime Boeing 787 view

 

The Future of Flight Aviation Center will let you watch the Dreamliner's first fight from its deck -- if you donate $250 or more to the museum.

:rofl:

[S V Choong 4]

Delayed Dreamliner nears take-off

June 22, 2009 .

THE US aerospace giant Boeing is getting its 787 Dreamliner ready for its first test flight within days, banking on the new fuel-efficient plane to sail above stiff market headwinds.

 

Boeing expects the much-delayed Dreamliner to have its maiden flight within the next eight days on a schedule that puts delivery of the plane to first customer, All Nippon Airways, in the first quarter of next year.

 

"We're very much looking forward to seeing our airplane take to the skies," said a Boeing spokesman, Marc Birtel.

 

No date has been announced for the flight.

 

The company has delayed the Dreamliner's first flight, nearly two years behind schedule, four times since launching the program in 2004 because of production problems.

 

The Chicago-based company announced last Wednesday that final assembly had begun on the first aircraft destined for ANA, which has ordered 50 Dreamliners. Qantas and its Jetstar subsidiary have ordered 65 of the fuel-efficient jets.

 

Jetstar is expected to launch services into Europe and North America after it takes delivery of its first 787 next year.

 

"This is a great day for the 787 team," said Scott Fancher, the vice-president and general manager of the Dreamliner program.

 

"In 2004 ANA demonstrated great faith in Boeing and the 787 by placing the largest launch order for any new airplane in Boeing history."

 

Boeing has built six Dreamliners that will be used in the flight-test program to assure the plane's safety for the company and for regulators, including the Federal Aviation Administration and foreign authorities, Mr Birtel said.

 

"The main mantra is safety."

 

Boeing said it had 865 orders from 56 airlines for the aircraft, saying it is the "fastest-selling all-new jetliner in aviation history". The 787 Dreamliner is the company's first new model in more than a decade and features 50 per cent plastic composites, compared with 12 per cent on its 777s, helping lower fuel consumption.

 

According to Boeing, the 787 will use 20 per cent less fuel than similarly sized aircraft, reducing emissions by a similar amount.

 

Plagued by problems from a complex international production system and a two-month machinists strike last year, the Dreamliner's delays have angered customers and resulted in order cancellations.

 

The latest delay, announced last December, postponed first flight into the second quarter of this year, from the fourth quarter of last year.

 

The launch customer ANA complained about the new delay for first delivery of the aircraft, which initially was set for the third quarter of this year.

 

In January the Russian carrier S7 Airlines announced the cancellation of an order for 15 Dreamliners. The next month Boeing said that the Dubai-based aircraft leasing company LCAL had cancelled 16 of the 21 planes ordered.

 

The launch of the new aircraft comes amid turmoil in the aviation industry as the global economy slumps in the worst economic crisis in decades.

 

A plunge in passenger air travel has led to massive cancellations and deferrals of aircraft orders.

 

The International Air Transport Association projects that passenger traffic will fall 8 per cent this year and airlines could lose $US9 billion ($11.2 billion), almost double the estimate three months ago.

 

That would be on top of $US10.4 billion lost last year, according to IATA.

 

Boeing earlier this month lowered its outlook for the world commercial aircraft market over the next two decades because of the global economic downturn, slumping air traffic and volatile fuel prices. But it forecast the growing Asia-Pacific region would lead the commercial airplane market in both units and value.

 

Japanese carriers buy almost exclusively from the US aerospace giant, which is keeping a close eye on arch-rival Airbus.

 

The France-based manufacturer, a unit of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, has begun working on a new long-range A350 aircraft aimed at competing with the Dreamliner, expected to fly in mid-2013.

 

Boeing's financial losses have shaken investor confidence and the company has announced 10,000 job cuts for 2009, including 4500 in the commercial aircraft division

 

http://www.theage.com.au/travel/delayed-dr...90622-ct2v.html

 

The Boeing 787 is scheduled for first flight on 28 June 2009

Edited June 22, 2009 by S V Choong

[flee 5]

Boeing Postpones 787 First Flight

 

EVERETT, Wash., June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that first flight of the 787 Dreamliner will be postponed due to a need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft.

 

The need was identified during the recent regularly scheduled tests on the full-scale static test airplane. Preliminary analysis indicated that flight test could proceed this month as planned. However, after further testing and consideration of possible modified flight test plans, the decision was made late last week that first flight should instead be postponed until productive flight testing could occur.

 

First flight and first delivery will be rescheduled following the final determination of the required modification and testing plan. It will be several weeks before the new schedule is available. The 787 team will continue with other aspects of testing on Airplane #1, including final gauntlet testing and low-speed taxiing. Work will also continue on the other five flight test aircraft and the subsequent aircraft in the production system.

 

Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes said a team of experts has already identified several potential solutions.

 

"Consideration was given to a temporary solution that would allow us to fly as scheduled, but we ultimately concluded that the right thing was to develop, design, test and incorporate a permanent modification to the localized area requiring reinforcement. Structural modifications like these are not uncommon in the development of new airplanes, and this is not an issue related to our choice of materials or the assembly and installation work of our team," Carson said.

 

Boeing's financial guidance will be updated to reflect any impact of these changes when the company issues its second quarter 2009 earnings report in July.

 

Source: http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=720

[flee 5]

From The Star: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?f...mp;sec=business

 

SYDNEY: Qantas Airways Ltd. said Friday it had canceled orders for 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and delayed the delivery of a further 15 aircraft due to turbulent market conditions.

 

But Australia's flagship carrier said it remains committed to the new carbon fiber jetliner.

 

Qantas said it had reached a mutual agreement with the U.S.-based Boeing Co. to defer the delivery of 15 Boeing 787-8 aircraft by four years and cancel orders for 15 Boeing 787-9s scheduled for delivery in 2014/2015.

 

The B787-8 Dreamliner is a slightly smaller version of the B787-9.

 

Chief Executive Alan Joyce said the changes to the group's B787 orders were appropriate in the current climate.

 

Joyce said discussions with Boeing, which commenced some months ago, had not been influenced by the announcement this week of a design issue and further delay to the aircraft's first flight.

 

On Tuesday, Boeing canceled the first flight of the B787-8 after a wing problem emerged, delaying deliveries for a fifth time.

 

Boeing said the first flight and first delivery would be rescheduled and it would advise of the new schedule in the coming weeks.

 

The cancellation of orders for 15 B787-9s would reduce the group's aircraft capital expenditure by $3 billion based on current list prices, Joyce said.

 

Joyce said Qantas announced its original B787 order in 2005 and the "operating environment for the world's airlines has clearly changed dramatically since then."

 

"Delaying delivery, and reducing overall B787 capacity, is prudent, while still enabling Qantas and (budget subsidiary) Jetstar to take advantage of growth opportunities and market demands, both domestically and internationally," he said in a statement.

 

Joyce said Qantas remained committed to the aircraft as the right choice for Jetstar's international expansion, Qantas's growth and as a replacement for Qantas's B767-300 fleet.

 

Joyce described the latest delay was "disappointing."

 

But he said Qantas did not expect the delay to affect the company, given the changes to its delivery program. - AP

[BC Tam 2]

Good opportunity for MAS to grab delivery slots freed up - sapulah !

[Teoh Z Yao 0]

Good opportunity for MAS to grab delivery slots freed up - sapulah !

 

Sapu, and we get 787 in KLIA... Good for us all...

Edited June 26, 2009 by Teoh Z Yao

[flee 5]

I don't recall MH having placed any orders for the B787. They have not finalised their wide body replacement plans yet, so we will still need to wait a while more.

[Ryan Soh 3]

I don't recall MH having placed any orders for the B787. They have not finalised their wide body replacement plans yet, so we will still need to wait a while more.

Finalised? Dude... there isn't even a plan.

[BC Tam 2]

Finalised? Dude... there isn't even a plan.

Apparently there was , just abandoned / swept under the carpet

But if media statements are to be believed wholly, MAS is currently sitting on a big pile of cash

So, why not ..............

[Radzi 2]

Good opportunity for MAS to grab delivery slots freed up - sapulah !

 

MH should go for the A350. Forget about Boeing products for now.

 

[flee 5]

Actually, a small airline like MH should not operate too many aircraft types as it only increases costs and operational complexities. The B787 is a useful replacement for the current A330s but it will not be able to replace the B744s, T7s. MH needs to replace their A330s and 744s more urgently than it needs to replace the T7s.

 

As the A350 will replace both the A330/A340 family, MH should seriously look at this aircraft as a replacement for the A330 and B744s. Later on, models like the A350-1000 can be ordered to replace the older T7s.

[KK Lee 5]

Actually, a small airline like MH should not operate too many aircraft types as it only increases costs and operational complexities. The B787 is a useful replacement for the current A330s but it will not be able to replace the B744s, T7s. MH needs to replace their A330s and 744s more urgently than it needs to replace the T7s.

 

As the A350 will replace both the A330/A340 family, MH should seriously look at this aircraft as a replacement for the A330 and B744s. Later on, models like the A350-1000 can be ordered to replace the older T7s.

 

As D7 has ordered A350, MH is unlikely to order similar aircraft. My 2 cents, MH will order 787.

 

[Isaac 0]

My 2 cents, MH will order 787.

I hope so. I really do

 

[Radzi 2]

Actually, a small airline like MH should not operate too many aircraft types as it only increases costs and operational complexities. The B787 is a useful replacement for the current A330s but it will not be able to replace the B744s, T7s. MH needs to replace their A330s and 744s more urgently than it needs to replace the T7s.

 

As the A350 will replace both the A330/A340 family, MH should seriously look at this aircraft as a replacement for the A330 and B744s. Later on, models like the A350-1000 can be ordered to replace the older T7s.

 

 

As D7 has ordered A350, MH is unlikely to order similar aircraft. My 2 cents, MH will order 787.

 

 

This is getting off-topic but:

 

In the future MH will operate B738, one medium-sized WB and the A380. The medium-sized WB will replace both the A330 and B777. For personal reason I hope that the middle aircraft will be an Airbus.

 

[C.Foo 3]

Go Go Go and grab those slots as now very good time MAS can say its recession time and i'm sure boeing will agree. Mas should choose 787 as you can choose 2 engines. 350 not a fan as only a sole engine and has had no history

[Pieter C. 5]

This is getting off-topic For personal reason I hope that the middle aircraft will be an Airbus.

 

Does this mean you're an Airbus convert now ?

[BC Tam 2]

Does this mean you're an Airbus convert now ?

For the sake of those couple hundred or so souls accomodated in that metal tube located aft of his office in near future, I certainly hope so

 

[flee 5]

Capt Radzi, I believe the A350 will have a different cockpit from the A330. So whether it is the B787 or the A350, there will be conversion involved...

[Ja Singh 2]

MAS has never been an oppertunity grabber and hence grabbing this 787's will be a miracle. Being a GLC it has its red tape. as many or rather too many top people has to be involved before a decision can be rached. If all this top people sit in one or two meetings and make a decision it is fine.

 

But how it works is not so. There will be many individual meetings from various diferent quaters for different reasons and gains taken into account.

Then dinally goverment givs green light and all are happy. But one unhppy top official was not consulted in this preceedings and felt left out.And he makes a hoo hah.

 

So goverment puts decision on hold. LAter cancels it.

[Ahmad M 1]

Capt Radzi, I believe the A350 will have a different cockpit from the A330. So whether it is the B787 or the A350, there will be conversion involved...

 

 

 

Much shorter conversion course if it's the Airbus.

[Radzi 2]

Does this mean you're an Airbus convert now ?

 

Converting....

Edited July 1, 2009 by Radzi

[flee 5]

ANA orders five more 787s

 

All Nippon Airways (ANA) plans to raise as much as ¥183 billion ($1.9 billion) by selling new shares in the company and it will use the proceeds to fund its aircraft acquisition programme that sees it increasing its Boeing 787 order to 55 aircraft from 50.

 

The Star Alliance carrier says in a statement that the sale of up to 537.5 million new shares will raise as much as ¥183 billion.

 

This will be used for "capital expenditure including the acquisition of aircraft," it says.

 

Details in the statement show ANA has increased the number of 787s on order to 55 from 50.

 

It did this at the end of May by switching some 767-300ERs on order to 787s, an ANA spokesman in Tokyo tells ATI.

 

Last September ANA announced it had ordered nine 767-300ERs from Boeing as interim lift but the ANA spokesman says this order has since been cut to four.

 

ANA says the economic outlook remains uncertain and the international swine flu outbreak has "presented another market shock".

 

"In particular demand for business travel has dropped more than expected," it adds.

 

ANA domestic passenger traffic fell 14% and 13% in April and May respectively and international passenger traffic is down 10% and 17% for April and May, it says.

 

"We may see revenue decreases at the end of the first quarter of this year amounting to approximately ¥30 billion" so results for the first fiscal quarter, three months ending 30 June, are expected to be harsher than 2008's fiscal fourth quarter, it adds.

 

"To recover approximately ¥30 billion," the company will reduce capacity in line with demand, delay the introduction of widebody cargo aircraft, introduce one-month unpaid leave for staff, introduce cost cutting measures, make improvements to procurement procedures and introduce more "value-added charged services" on flights, says ANA.

 

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/07/01/329063/ana-orders-five-more-787s.html

[Jonathan Kong 0]

JAL released pictures of its first B787 in special livery of course

[Kevin Teh 0]

@flightblogger Boeing confirms ZA001 final gauntlet underway

 

@flightblogger Nope, no fix yet on the wing, Boeing can still do the final gauntlet and low speed taxi tests on the 787s

 

From twitter, at least the 787 is moving again...

[kianhong 0]

Not sure if anyone has posted this already.

 

http://www.lonelyscientist.com/

 

An ebook - "An Impossible Dream" by Hans van der Zanden regarding issues faced by aircraft manufacturer with large application of composite material on airframe (ie B787 & A350XWB). Approx 6MB PDF download is available on the site.

 

Rather interesting read, I am on page68 now.