Boeing 787

Boeing 787. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a family of long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliners developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It is the first major airliner to use composite materials as the primary material in its airframe construction, contributing to significant fuel efficiency improvements. The aircraft was designed to be highly efficient, featuring advanced GEnx and Trent 1000 engines, and a distinctive raked wingtip design.

Development and design

The program was launched in April 2004 under the designation 7E7, with a focus on efficiency to replace aging models like the Boeing 767. A key innovation was the extensive use of lightweight carbon-fiber reinforced polymer composites, which comprise about 50% of the airframe by weight. The design phase involved a global network of risk-sharing partners, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the wingbox and Alenia Aermacchi for the fuselage sections. The aircraft introduced several passenger-centric features, such as larger electrochromic windows, a lower cabin altitude for improved comfort, and a sophisticated Boeing Sky Interior with LED mood lighting. Major systems, including the fly-by-wire controls and bleed air-less architecture, were developed in collaboration with Honeywell and Rockwell Collins.

Operational history

The first 787-8 variant performed its maiden flight from Paine Field in December 2009. After extensive testing and certification efforts with the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, the first delivery was made to launch customer All Nippon Airways in September 2011. The airline inaugurated commercial service on the Tokyo to Hong Kong route the following month. The larger Boeing 787-9 entered service in 2014 with Air New Zealand, followed by the Boeing 787-10 with Singapore Airlines in 2018. The Dreamliner has been particularly popular on long-haul routes, enabling new point-to-point services for carriers like Norwegian Air Shuttle and Qantas. By 2024, over 1,100 aircraft had been delivered to operators worldwide, including major fleets at United Airlines, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines.

Variants

The family consists of three principal models, all sharing a common type rating. The 787-8 is the base model, with a typical seating capacity for 242 passengers and a range of approximately 7,350 nautical miles. The stretched 787-9, which first flew in 2013, is the most popular variant, carrying 290 passengers farther, with a range of around 7,565 nautical miles. The largest model is the 787-10, which entered service in 2018; it maximizes passenger capacity to 330 but has a reduced range of about 6,330 nautical miles, optimized for dense regional routes. A dedicated freighter variant, the 787-8F, was launched in 2022 with an order from Qatar Airways.

Specifications

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Model ! 787-8 ! 787-9 ! 787-10 |- | Cockpit crew | colspan="3" | Two |- | Typical 2-class seats | 242 | 290 | 330 |- | Length | 186 ft (56.7 m) | 206 ft (62.8 m) | 224 ft (68.3 m) |- | Wingspan | colspan="3" | 197 ft (60.1 m) with raked wingtips |- | Maximum takeoff weight | 502,500 lb (227,930 kg) | 560,000 lb (254,000 kg) | 560,000 lb (254,000 kg) |- | Engines (x2) | colspan="3" | General Electric GEnx-1B or Trent 1000 |- | Max range | 7,350 nmi (13,620 km) | 7,565 nmi (14,010 km) | 6,330 nmi (11,730 km) |- | Cruise speed | colspan="3" | Mach 0.85 (488 kn; 903 km/h) |}

Incidents and controversies

The program has faced significant challenges. Early operations were marred by incidents involving lithium-ion battery fires on Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways aircraft in 2013, leading to a global grounding ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration and investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board. Production and quality control issues have been persistent, with inspections revealing defects in fuselage join gaps and shimming work at the Boeing South Carolina plant. In 2020 and 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration mandated inspections for manufacturing flaws in the forward pressure bulkhead and issues with the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. These ongoing concerns have been scrutinized by the United States Congress and have impacted the aircraft's delivery schedule and reputation.

Category:Aircraft manufactured by Boeing Category:Twinjet airliners Category:Airplanes introduced in 2011