Dreamliner delivered after three year wait

Posted 06/07/2011

The long-awaited 787 Dreamliner made its first trip across the Pacific yesterday when it travelled from Boeing HQ in Seattle to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to start a week of tests for launch airline ANA.

The plane was originally supposed to be delivered three years ago but a series of developmental problems hindered its manufacture. But Sunday’s delivery marks the start of the year of the Dreamliner, with first scheduled passenger flights set to take off on domestic routes this autumn.

The Dreamliner is made of carbon fibre and other composite materials making it far lighter than traditional aluminium planes. It will be 20% more fuel efficient than other planes its size, says Boeing.

The jet’s interior also reveals design innovations such as washlet-equipped toilets (that’s a bidet to you and me), cabin lighting that helps passengers adjust to time changes and drinks chillers at the end of the cabin.

The jet, some 56 metres long, will now undergo testing at five different airports during a six day Japanese itinerary.

Boeing has received orders for 835 Dreamliners with 55 of those heading for ANA.

ANA president and CEO Shinichiro Ito said: "ANA is proud to be the first airline in the world that will operate the 787. The Dreamliner is an integral part of our plans to become Asia's number one airline and will allow us to bring new standards of comfort and service to our passengers."

Originally published 6 Jul 2011 at: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/398/f/5923/s/1665eb60/l/0L0Stravelmole0N0Cstories0C11483550Bphp0Dmpnlog0F1/story01.htm