Carbon fiber instead of aluminum: With more than three years, Boeing’s Dreamliner is scheduled to begin late on Tuesday on his maiden flight. The new aircraft will consume less fuel due to its lightweight design. But until the first airline followed a 787 can take delivery, even a year passes.
Frankfurt am Main – now just have to play the weather. On Tuesday, Boeing will Superjet 787 series stand out for the first time from the earth after the Dreamliner has insisted on Saturday the last function on the ground. It is high time: the project of the American aircraft manufacturer has been delayed repeatedly and hangs behind the original schedule by more than two years.
Actually, the first Boeing 787 was to be delivered before half a year to launch customer All Nippon Airways in Japan. But problems with the new technology and distributed on numerous suppliers manufacturing led to new delays. The actual first flight scheduled for August 2007 had to be postponed several times and was now scheduled for Tuesday evening Central European Time on the clock 19 Paine Field in Everett in Washington State.
The first shown in July 2007 aircraft has already received plenty of early praise. Boeing has hundreds of orders in the order books. The 787 is Boeing’s answer to the Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft in the world. The U.S. group had decided to instead build a giant jumbos a comparatively smaller model with extended range and reduced fuel consumption. Thus, the “Dreamliner” to the main competitor for the Airbus A350, which is to come – too late – in 2013 on the market.
Dispersed sites make trouble
The 787 brings an important new feature: Boeing’s Dreamliner is in large parts of modern composite materials. They are much lighter than the usual aluminum. This expects the manufacturer with a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption. However, the production brings its own difficulties with composite materials, as already had experienced competitor Airbus.
Yet another typical problem for Airbus and Boeing are now announced: the production of the individual elements of an airplane at widely separated locations. Boeing can manufacture the parts for the Dreamliner in Japan, Italy, South Carolina and Kansas. You will be flown with a special jumbo to Everett at Seattle and then assembled. Here, there were always problems. The company provided the external component does not appear in the state that the Boeing had been expected, as Vice President Scott Carson revealed in early 2008.
First new development since 1995
The Boeing 787 is the first new development of the aircraft manufacturer since 1995. The jet is depending on the version 210 to 290 passengers carrying 14,000 to almost 16,000 miles can. This would virtually every major remote connection to operate non-stop. Another variant for up to 330 passengers shall be construed to 5560 kilometers for medium-haul routes.
From the light and durable carbon-fiber construction of the hull will also benefit the passengers. In jet cabins typically atmospheric pressure, as in about 2400 meters above sea level. In the 787 should prevail because of the stable hull, such as an air pressure at 1,800 meters. Due to weight savings elsewhere, the windows are larger than conventional aircraft.
One study estimates that passengers feel more comfortable if they can see the horizon while flying well. And there must be no reference to corrosion, aluminum will be more taken to the air-conditioned cabin air may not seem as dry as in earlier models.
Even before the first flight, Boeing has indicated that after 840 as of November, with orders worth 141 billion U.S. dollars for the 787 in the books. Even German airlines are among the customers. Air Berlin has ordered 25 aircraft for delivery from 2013 to 2017. The delivery of the new aircraft is now expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2010.
