Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Boeing 787 Dreamliner
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Name	Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Type	Wide-body jet airliner
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Boeing Commercial Airplanes
First flight	December 15, 2009
Introduction	October 26, 2011 with All Nippon Airways
Status	In service
Primary users	All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines
Produced	2007–present
Number built	Over 1,100 (as of 2024)

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 was the first major airliner to use composite materials as the primary material in the construction of its airframe, and it entered service in 2011 with launch customer All Nippon Airways. The aircraft is designed to be highly fuel-efficient, largely through the use of advanced GEnx and Trent 1000 turbofan engines and its innovative electrical system.

Development and background

The program was launched in April 2004 under the name 7E7, with a focus on efficiency to replace aging models like the Boeing 767. The development involved an unprecedented level of global outsourcing, with major structural sections produced by partners worldwide, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan, Alenia Aermacchi in Italy, and Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas. The final assembly line was established in Everett, Washington, and later at Boeing South Carolina in North Charleston. The project faced significant delays, with the first flight postponed multiple times due to issues with the global supply chain and integration of new technologies, finally occurring in December 2009. The program's development costs were estimated to exceed $32 billion.

Design and features

The airframe is constructed primarily from carbon fiber reinforced polymer, making it lighter and more resistant to corrosion than traditional aluminum alloy designs. Key innovations include the use of electrochromic smart windows instead of traditional window shades and a bleed airless architecture where systems are powered electrically rather than by engine bleed air. The GEnx and Trent 1000 engines contribute to a roughly 20% reduction in fuel consumption compared to previous generation aircraft like the Boeing 767. The cabin features higher cabin pressure and increased humidity for improved passenger comfort, along with larger overhead bins and distinctive raked wingtips for aerodynamic efficiency.

Operational history

The aircraft received its type certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency in August 2011. All Nippon Airways inaugurated commercial service on October 26, 2011, on a route from Tokyo to Hong Kong. It has since become a mainstay on long-haul routes for carriers such as Japan Airlines, United Airlines, Qantas, and British Airways. The fleet has accumulated millions of flight hours, operating routes previously not economically viable for twinjet aircraft, such as Perth to London. By the late 2010s, it had become the fastest-selling wide-body airliner in Boeing's history.

Variants

The family consists of three main models. The 787-8 is the base model, with a typical seating capacity of 242 passengers and a range of approximately 7,350 nautical miles. The stretched 787-9, which entered service in 2014 with Air New Zealand, is 20 feet longer, can carry 290 passengers, and has an extended range of 7,565 nautical miles. The largest variant, the 787-10, first flown in 2017 and introduced by Singapore Airlines, seats 330 passengers but has a shorter range of 6,330 nautical miles, optimized for high-density regional routes.

Incidents and controversies

The program has faced several technical and regulatory challenges. In 2013, the worldwide fleet was grounded for nearly four months by the Federal Aviation Administration following incidents involving lithium-ion battery fires on aircraft operated by Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways. Subsequent investigations led to redesigns of the battery containment system. Further issues emerged years later, including production quality concerns at the Boeing South Carolina facility and premature wear on Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine components, leading to additional airworthiness directives and operational disruptions for airlines like Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand. In 2020 and 2021, Boeing advised operators to address a separate manufacturing defect in the forward pressure bulkhead.

Category:Boeing aircraft Category:Twinjet airliners Category:Aircraft first flown in 2009