ANA landed the first Boeing 787 in Tokyo on Wednesday, continuing the U.S. manufacturer's dominance of Japan's aircraft market after long delays in delivering a jet that promises big fuel savings and other improvements.
The plane took off from Everett, Washington Tuesday morning to cheering workers after a three-year delay in bringing the new wide-body jetliner to market. Boeing ( BA - news - people ) missed the initial May 2008 delivery target and had repeatedly delayed its introduction because of problems in development.
The new jet is the first commercial airliner built using carbon fiber - a strong, lightweight, high-tech plastic - rather than the typical aluminum skin. It is quieter and uses about 20 percent less fuel than a comparably sized aluminum aircraft.
The 787 delivered to All Nippon Airways goes into service on Oct. 26 with a special charter flight from Narita International Airport to Hong Kong. ANA will begin using the 787 on regular domestic routes on Nov. 1.
Japanese companies played a major role in building the 787, accounting for 35 percent of its airframe structure, according to Boeing. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. ( MHVYF.PK - news - people ) produces the wings, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. makes part of the fuselage, and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. manufacturers the center wing box.
Boeing's relationship with Japan extends beyond the factory as well.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
First delivered Boeing 787 flying away to Japan
Signed, sealed and delivered, the first Boeing 787 flies away from Everett, Wash., on Tuesday in the hands of launch customer All Nippon Airways.
Boeing officials handed over a ceremonial key to airline executives Monday, after a three-year delay in bringing the new wide-body jetliner to market. The plane goes into service in November in Japan.
The 787-8 Dreamliner will carry 210 - 250 passengers on routes of 7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles (14,200 to 15,200 kilometers), while the 787-9 Dreamliner will carry 250 - 290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,750 kilometers).
In addition to bringing big-jet ranges to mid-size airplanes, the 787 provides airlines with unmatched fuel efficiency, resulting in exceptional environmental performance. The airplane uses 20 percent less fuel than today's similarly sized airplanes. It will also travel at a similar speed as today's fastest wide bodies, Mach 0.85. Airlines will enjoy more cargo revenue capacity.
Passengers will also see improvements on the 787 Dreamliner, from an interior environment with higher humidity to increased comfort and convenience.
The key to the exceptional performance of the 787 Dreamliner is a suite of new technologies developed and applied on the airplane.
Composite materials make up 50 percent of the primary structure of the 787 including the fuselage and wing.
Modern systems architecture is at the heart of the 787's design. It is simpler than today's airplanes and offers increased functionality and efficiency. For example, the team has incorporated airplane health-monitoring systems that allow the airplane to self-monitor and report systems maintenance requirements to ground-based computer systems.
New engines from General Electric and Rolls-Royce are used on the 787. Advances in engine technology are the biggest contributor to overall fuel efficiency improvements. The new engines represent nearly a two-generation jump in technology for the middle of the market.
The design and build process of the 787 has added further efficiency improvements. New technologies and processes have been developed to help Boeing and its supplier partners achieve the efficiency gains. For example, manufacturing a one-piece fuselage section has eliminated 1,500 aluminum sheets and 40,000 - 50,000 fasteners.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Boeing 787 First Flight
After two and a half years of delays, aerospace giant Boeing will finally push its Dreamliner out of the nest and see if it can fly. The Boeing 787's first flight today marks a long anticipated turning point for the company, as it tiptoes closer to cashing in on the next-gen plane that airlines have hungered for.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner finishes maiden flight
SEATTLE, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner finally took to the air on Tuesday, more than two years later than originally planned.
The plane's long-anticipated maiden flight was a milestone for the development of the aircraft seen as key to the U.S. aerospace heavyweight's future.
Braving the morning cold, a crowd of about 12,000 people, most of them Boeing employees, watched the jet take off at Paine Field Airport in Everett, a city about 40 kilometers north of Seattle, Washington.
After accomplishing its three-hour flight, which was trimmed from five hours due to bad weather, the Dreamliner landed at Seattle's King County International Airport, also known as Boeing Field.
During the flight, the two pilots -- Mike Carriker and Randy Neville -- tested the airplane's systems and structure while onboard equipment recorded and transmitted real-time data to a test team on the ground.
The first flight was "a very important milestone" in the development of the Dreamliner, Russ Young, Boeing's spokesperson, told Xinhua. "An airplane is designed to fly, so the first time you fly it is a great moment."
The 330-seat 787 will consume up to 20 percent less fuel for long-haul routes than today's similarly sized airplanes, Boeing said.
The plane was also dubbed the "green" passenger jet by Chicago-based Boeing because as much as 50 percent of the primary structure on the jet is made of composite materials, such as carbon fiber-reinforced resin.
Boeing says the 787 will be more efficient, quieter and have lower emissions than other airplanes. The midsize plane also will have wider seats and ailes, and larger windows.
Depending on its configuration, the plane will hold as many as 330 passengers.
Launched in April 2004, the 787 program has been plagued by repeated delays with the first flight postponed five times in the past two years.
"We have run into some delays. Those are disappointing. But it's the nature of our business, we have got to get the airplane right," said Young.
Finally getting the 787 off the ground was a relief for Boeing, which is hanging high hopes on the plane in regards to competition with its European rival Airbus.
Young said that Tuesday's first test flight was just one of the major milestones in a very long process of designing, testing, building and flying.
"There is lot to be done before we have it delivered," Young said.
According to Boeing, the 787 has already topped the list of the "fastest-selling all-new jetliner in aviation history" with 840 orders from 55 customers around the world.
The success of the maiden flight entitles Boeing to fast-track its orders since production problems pushed back delivery of the first plane to Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways to late 2010.
Until now, delays in the program were to blame for a 1.6-billion-dollar loss in the third quarter. Boeing also slashed this year's earnings guidance by more than a third.
The plane's long-anticipated maiden flight was a milestone for the development of the aircraft seen as key to the U.S. aerospace heavyweight's future.
Braving the morning cold, a crowd of about 12,000 people, most of them Boeing employees, watched the jet take off at Paine Field Airport in Everett, a city about 40 kilometers north of Seattle, Washington.
After accomplishing its three-hour flight, which was trimmed from five hours due to bad weather, the Dreamliner landed at Seattle's King County International Airport, also known as Boeing Field.
During the flight, the two pilots -- Mike Carriker and Randy Neville -- tested the airplane's systems and structure while onboard equipment recorded and transmitted real-time data to a test team on the ground.
The first flight was "a very important milestone" in the development of the Dreamliner, Russ Young, Boeing's spokesperson, told Xinhua. "An airplane is designed to fly, so the first time you fly it is a great moment."
The 330-seat 787 will consume up to 20 percent less fuel for long-haul routes than today's similarly sized airplanes, Boeing said.
The plane was also dubbed the "green" passenger jet by Chicago-based Boeing because as much as 50 percent of the primary structure on the jet is made of composite materials, such as carbon fiber-reinforced resin.
Boeing says the 787 will be more efficient, quieter and have lower emissions than other airplanes. The midsize plane also will have wider seats and ailes, and larger windows.
Depending on its configuration, the plane will hold as many as 330 passengers.
Launched in April 2004, the 787 program has been plagued by repeated delays with the first flight postponed five times in the past two years.
"We have run into some delays. Those are disappointing. But it's the nature of our business, we have got to get the airplane right," said Young.
Finally getting the 787 off the ground was a relief for Boeing, which is hanging high hopes on the plane in regards to competition with its European rival Airbus.
Young said that Tuesday's first test flight was just one of the major milestones in a very long process of designing, testing, building and flying.
"There is lot to be done before we have it delivered," Young said.
According to Boeing, the 787 has already topped the list of the "fastest-selling all-new jetliner in aviation history" with 840 orders from 55 customers around the world.
The success of the maiden flight entitles Boeing to fast-track its orders since production problems pushed back delivery of the first plane to Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways to late 2010.
Until now, delays in the program were to blame for a 1.6-billion-dollar loss in the third quarter. Boeing also slashed this year's earnings guidance by more than a third.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Washington officials worry about Boeing 787 jobs
HE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEATTLE -- Washington officials worry that Boeing's $580 million purchase of the Vought Aircraft Industries plant in South Carolina means the company may open a second 787 production line on the other side of the country, but union officials don't appear to be concerned.
The undeveloped land included in the Vought purchase "signals that Washington state is truly in a competition for the second line" and future jobs, said Aaron Reardon, the top county official in Snohomish County, where Boeing now assembles the 787.
He said Washington must improve its competitive climate and encourage Boeing and its unions to re-establish a partnership. A Machinists Union strike last fall shut down work for eight weeks.
The president of the Machinists Union local that represents Boeing workers in Western Washington said Tuesday that the company has told them this move is not a statement about where the second 787 line is going to be located.
"When that issue is discussed, we will do everything in our power to ensure that Puget Sound is at the top of the list," said District 751 President Tom Wroblewski in a statement.
Gov. Chris Gregoire says Boeing's Commercial Airplanes CEO Scott Carson assured her no decision had been made on a second 787 line.
"This announcement underscores that Boeing wants to ensure that it manufacturers the 787 Dreamliner as efficiently as possible," Gregoire said in a statement. The governor will gather information at a business round-table Tuesday afternoon focused on the health of Washington's aerospace industry.
In March, Washington lawmakers ordered a competitiveness study comparing the state's business climate to that of possible rivals for aerospace and South Carolina made the list.
U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., said aerospace workers, government officials and business leaders shouldn't panic yet. He told The Herald newspaper of Everett that this announcement isn't a definitive sign that Boeing is going to set up a production line for the 787 in South Carolina.
"I don't think this necessarily means bad news for us," Inslee said. He said that in his discussion with Boeing officials, they expressed concern about their relationships with the unions, especially relating to work stoppages.
Inslee pointed out, however, that the Machinists aren't to blame for Boeing's troubles on the 787. He said outsourcing is the problem.
The machinists at Vought are represented by the same union as those in Everett, said aerospace industry consultant Scott Hamilton of Issaquah-based Leeham Co.
Hamilton said the cost of doing business in South Carolina is lower than the cost in Western Washington, but the company would have to retrain workers or transfer people from Washington and other states to build a work force ready to assemble an operating aircraft.
Boeing customers are concerned about delivery delays related to labor disputes, said John Stanton, chair of the Washington Roundtable, a group of business executives.
"If the workers and the company can't figure out how to trust each other and get along, then the company has little choice but to locate operations in communities that will be more welcoming," Stanton said in a statement. "If Seattle wants to keep Boeing, they better stand up and show it because there are dozens of other states that will welcome the jobs and the economic activity."
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Boeing 787 Aircraft
Boeing 787 Dreamliner first flight postponed for 5th time  |
www.chinaview.cn  2009-06-24 07:29:24 |   Print |
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| The Boeing company's first 787 Dreamliner is readied for its first test flight, scheduled for June, at the Boeing company's Everett, Washington plant, April 30, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
CHICAGO, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Chicago-based Boeing Company announced on Tuesday that the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner, which is scheduled by the end of this month and has already been two years delayed, will be postponed for the fifth time due to a need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft.
In a statement, Boeing said 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. Boeing has postponed the first flight for four times in past two years, citing parts shortages, defects, redesign work and problems with suppliers for disrupting development.
Boeing didn't give the definite rescheduled timetable of the first flight and first delivery. The airplane giant just indicated that after the final determination of the required modification and testing plan, "Several weeks" will be needed before the new schedule is available.
According to the statement, the 787 team will continue with other aspects of testing on Airplane No. 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.
"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," said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
However, Carson said on June 16 at the Paris Air Show that the "airplane could fly today" and reiterated the plan for the first-flight by the month's end.
Boeing said its financial guidance will be updated to reflect any impact of these changes when the company issues its second quarter 2009 earnings report in July.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a mid-sized, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner currently under development by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It will carry between 210 and 330 passengers depending on variant and seating configuration. Boeing stated that it will be more fuel-efficient than earlier Boeing airliners and will be the first major airliner to use composite materials for most of its construction.[3] Boeing's development of the 787 is also innovative in the collaborative management approach with suppliers.
On January 28, 2005, the aircraft's development designation 7E7 was changed to the 787.[4] Early released concept images depicted a radical design with highly curved surfaces. On April 26, 2005, a year after the launch of the program, the final look of the external 787 design was frozen, with a less rakish nose and a more conventional tail.
Boeing featured its first 787 in a rollout ceremony on July 8, 2007, at its Everett assembly factory, by which time it had become the fastest-selling wide-body airliner in history with nearly 600 orders.[5] A total of 861 Boeing 787s have been ordered by 56 customers as of April 2009.[6] Originally scheduled to enter service in May 2008, production has been delayed multiple times and it was scheduled to enter into service in 2010.[7][8][9] The aircraft's maiden flight has been delayed with no confirmed schedule for its first flight as of late June 2009.[10]
First Flight of Boeing 787 Delay
Boeing announced Tuesday that the first flight of the oft-delayed Boeing 787 will be postponed "due to a need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft."
Boeing had been shooting for a first flight by the end of June. This weekend was to include some systems testings for 48 hours straight, followed by some taxiing and a takeoff roll to the point that the nose would lift off the runway before returning to the pavement. Then, presumably, the company would look at the results and schedule the first flight.
However, Boeing said the flaw " was identified during the recent regularly scheduled tests on the full-scale static test airplane," and the company made the decision to come up with a permanent fix rather than a temporary one that would allow test flights to happen sooner.
Said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes:
"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."
Added Boeing in its press release:
"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."
In an analyst and media call Tuesday morning, Boeing kept repeating that they'll have to work through the problem to see what impact it has on the schedule, including first deliveries.
The program for the 787, a composite airplane that promises greater fuel efficiency and lower operating and maintenance costs, was launched in 2004 with first deliveries promised in 2008.
However, that schedule has keep slipping as Boeing struggled with design and production issues. Before Tuesday's announcement, Boeing had intended to deliver the first airplane in first quarter 2009.
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