It's about time!

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/787family

Man, we've been hearing about this thing for ages. Back when it was called the 7E7 (E for Efficient). Speculation over where they'll be built - Renton, Everett, or heaven forbid, somewhere not in western Washington.

I like the curved wings.

You can still see the Boeing in it.

Boeing or bowing?

BTW, the new 747-8 has the curved wings, too.

http://747.newairplane.com

I saw a 7E7 flying over Spokane a few weeks ago -- the day I was outside working on a Habitat for Humanity house, as a matter of fact. It looked like it was approaching the Spokane Airport, but I suppose it could have been going to Fairchild AFB.

Seriously. There are far too many planes in the air that were designed back in the '70s.

Bowing to Airbus, anyhow.

Boeing 787 Unveiled in the Virtual World
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is on track to make its first flight in August 2007

Brandon Hill (Blog) - December 8, 2006 10:33 AM
http://www.dailytech.com/Boeing+787+Unv ... le5278.htm

[thumb300]http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/3285_large_Boeing-787-Dreamliner-.jpg[/thumb300]

[thumb300]http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/3286_large_787-inflight.jpg[/thumb300]

While Airbus has run into some production snags with its A380 Superjumbo that have cost it customers, Boeing appears to be moving ahead on schedule with its smaller 787 Dreamliner. Boeing just recently announced that it has completed the "virtual rollout" of its new composite-bodied aircraft.

"Today's virtual rollout is the culmination of many months of effort by thousands of team members at Boeing and its 787 partners. Through the use of our new digital toolset, provided by Dassault Systemes, the team has proven the ability to manufacture 787 designs," said Mike Bair, VP and GM for the Dreamliner program.

Through the use of a powerful Dassault computer/software system, Boeing has been able to trim costs by 20% and cut a year from production on the Dreamliner. Engineers have also been able to see how parts will fit together in the virtual world before running into possible snags on a real production line.

"Our tools have enabled us to model the entire production process from our partners' factories to our own. We have found errors in simulation that would have been costly to find in production and have been able to design corrections quickly to keep the program on track," said Bair.

If you may recall, the Airbus A380 has been delayed by a year due to problems with the electrical harness which consists of 100,000 wires and 40,300 connectors. These problems were found during production rather than earlier in the design process of the aircraft.

Boeing is currently taking steps to reduce weight on the Dreamliner by switching from aluminum to titanium on some parts used in the aircraft. In order to meet the design targets for fuel efficiency and range, the switch to titanium is a necessity. Not surprisingly, the computer simulations have been instrumental in pointing out critical components that are ripe for the switch to titanium.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is expected to make its first flight in August of 2007 with delivery starting in 2008. As of now, Boeing has orders for 458 planes from 37 customers.

"It's a challenge, no doubt about it. This is the team, all of us together -- our customers, our partners and each of us -- who will bring this airplane to life. It's an amazing journey from where we started just four years ago. But the best part is yet to come," said Bair.

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner Makes Switch From Wireless to Wired Networking
Boeing lists reduced weight and increased bandwidth among the reasons for the switch to wired networking

Brandon Hill (Blog) - January 26, 2007 10:26 AM
http://www.dailytech.com/Boeings+787+Dr ... le5865.htm

[thumb300]http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/3709_large_3285_large_Boeing-787-Dreamliner-.jpg[/thumb300]

[caption300=http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/3710_large_787_Interiors_k63434-09.jpg]Images courtesy Boeing[/caption300]
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner passenger jet is moving along swiftly in development and is not too far away from its August 2007 maiden flight. The twin-engine aircraft will feature body and wing construction that is comprised by as much as 50% composite materials and has a cruising speed of Mach 0.85. Boeing also claims that the Dreamliner is 20% more fuel efficient than competing aircraft.

In keeping with the advanced nature of the plane’s engines and construction, the Dreamliner was also supposed to make use of wireless networking for DVD-quality in-flight entertainment.

Boeing has decided to nix that idea and has switched to a wired networking arrangement for the Dreamliner. The company says that the move to wired networking only adds 50 pounds to the aircraft instead of the 200 pounds required for wireless networking components. There were also concerns over the amount of bandwidth that could be provided by a wireless network.

Reduced weight and bandwidth, however, aren't the only reasons why Boeing has decided to go with a wired network. Boeing learned that some countries would not give it permission to use frequencies necessary for wireless networking. "Knowing that the regulatory issues were basically insurmountable, it just did not make sense to apply those resources there," said Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter.

Boeing has stated that the switch to a wired network will not result in production delays of the aircraft, and that customers have already been notified of the change.

Virgin Orders 15 Boeing Dreamliners, Discusses Ways to Improve Efficiency
Virgin Atlantic places an order for 15 787-9 Dreamliners

Brandon Hill (Blog) - April 26, 2007 8:52 AM
http://www.dailytech.com/Virgin+Orders+ ... le7071.htm



Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has been detailed on DailyTech several times over the past year. The aircraft will be available in three versions (787-3, 787-8 and 787-9) and will accommodate between 223 to 296 passengers. A total of 44 customers have ordered 544 Dreamliners at a cost of $75 billion USD.

The plane will be constructed of roughly 50 percent composite materials to aid in strength and to save weight. Boeing also switched out aluminum in favor of titanium for some components to save even more weight over the course of development. The Dreamliner will have a cruising speed of Mach 0.85 and will consume about 20 percent less fuel than its comparably-sized rivals.

Boeing today announced that that Virgin Atlantic has ordered 15 of the 787-9 Dreamliner which seats 263 passengers in three classes. The deal is valued at $2.8 billion USD and Virgin Atlantic has the option to purchase an additional eight 787-9s and another 20 787-3s.

"Virgin Atlantic is pleased to introduce the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as our aircraft of the future," said Virgin Atlantic CEO Steve Ridgway. "This revolutionary aircraft will bring a step change to the industry, substantially reducing environmental impact and incorporating innovative design and advanced technology, while providing an enhanced flying experience for our passengers."

Boeing and Virgin Atlantic are also looking at other ways to reduce fuel usage in airliners. Instead of starting the engines near the terminal, the two companies will are looking to tow aircraft to a "starting grid" near the active runway where the engines would then be started. This move would cut carbon emissions by nearly 50 percent, reduce fuel consumption and cut down on noise pollution.

In addition, Virgin Atlantic and GE Aviation have announced a partnership to develop biofuels for use in aircraft. A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400 will be used as a demonstrator for alternative fuel usage sometime next year.

"Virgin Atlantic has demonstrated extraordinary leadership within our industry on addressing environmental impact, and Boeing is proud that the 787 Dreamliner is such an important ingredient of the airline's plan for the future," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Scott Carson. "Working together in partnership, Boeing and Virgin Atlantic will develop innovative, environmentally progressive solutions to provide greater fuel efficiency and lower aircraft emissions."

Looks like the designers were fans of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

First Fully Assembled Boeing 787 Dreamliner Rolls Out
An eager photographer catches the 787 Dreamliner in the buff

Brandon Hill (Blog) - June 28, 2007 3:12 PM
http://www.dailytech.com/First+Fully+As ... le7875.htm

[caption300=http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/5246_large_787_1.jpg](Source: Charles Conklin)[/caption300]
[caption300=http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/5247_large_787_2.jpg](Source: Charles Conklin)[/caption300]
It has been a long time coming, but the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner has rolled off the assembly line. Charles Conklin -- an avid aviation enthusiast -- managed to snap some pictures of a fully assembled Dreamliner sans paint.

According to Flightblogger, the official roll-out ceremony for the Dreamliner is on July 8 with the first delivered scheduled to take place in May of next year. The production run of aircraft is completely booked until 2013 at the earliest.

The Dreamliner is the next generation of airliners for Boeing and makes use of composite materials in 50 percent of its body and wings. The use of composite materials has helped Boeing keep the weight down which allows the Dreamliner to be 20 percent more fuel efficient than its closest rivals. Top speed for the aircraft is Mach 0.85.

Business travelers will appreciate the integrated networking capabilities on the Dreamliner. Boeing had initially planned to equip its Dreamliner with wireless networking, but instead decided on a wired networking to save 150 pounds per plane.

As of April, 44 customers have ordered 544 Dreamliners at a cost of $75 billion USD.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ha! The original caption at DailyTech read, "Is this 10 Forward or an airplane interior?"

Boeing Unveils First 787 Dreamliner to the Public
Boeing takes the fight to Airbus with the 787 Dreamliner

Brandon Hill (Blog) - July 9, 2007 10:30 AM
http://www.dailytech.com/Boeing+Unveils ... le7966.htm

[caption300=http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/5303_large_787_1.jpg](Source: Boeing)[/caption300]
[caption300=http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/5304_large_787-2.jpg](Source: Boeing)[/caption300]
Boeing rolled out the first fully-assembled 787 Dreamliner in late June. Photos of the plane were captured by Charles Conklin, an avid aviation enthusiast. The photos showed the Dreamliner in the buff (without its final paint scheme applied).

The Dreamliner had its war paint on for its official roll-out on Sunday (July 8, 2007, aka 7-8-7) to a crowd of 15,000 people. There were also another 30,000 onlookers via a two-way satellite feed from locations in the United States, Italy and Japan. Boeing estimates that as many as 100 million people were able to view the 787 Dreamliner Premiere.

"This has been a wonderful and exciting day to celebrate this breakthrough airplane with our customers, employees, supplier partners and our communities," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Scott Carson. "We are gratified that the 787 has been so strongly validated in the marketplace by our customers. Their response is proof that the Dreamliner will bring real value to our airline customers, passengers and the global air transportation system."

"Our journey began some six years ago when we knew we were on the cusp of delivering valuable technologies that would make an economic difference to our airline customers. In our business, that happens every 15 or so years, so we have to get it right," said Mike Bair, Boeing Commercial Airplanes VP and GM for the Dreamliner program.

The Dreamliner is constructed of 50 percent composites, 20 percent aluminum, 15 percent titanium and 10 percent steel. The uses of composite materials allowed Boeing to keep the weight down on the Dreamliner resulting in 20 percent greater fuel economy than the Airbus A330.

The Dreamliner is crucial to Boeing’s hopes of regaining first place from Airbus in the $60 billion USD jetliner market. Airbus is fully aware of the initial successes of the Dreamliner program and is countering with its own A350 XWB. The A350 XWB, however, isn’t due to enter service until 2013.

Boeing has accumulated 677 orders for its Dreamliner from 47 customers worldwide totaling $110 billion USD. The most recent customer was Air Berlin which ordered 25 787-8 Dreamliners at a cost of $4 billion USD. Air Berlin also secured 10 options and 15 purchase rights for additional planes.

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner Still on Schedule
First test flights could begin as early as mid-November

Brandon Hill (Blog) - October 8, 2007 11:47 AM
http://www.dailytech.com/Boeings+787+Dr ... le9203.htm

[imgalt]http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/6249_5303_large_787_1.jpg Boeing 787 Dreamliner during its official rollout (Source: Boeing)[/imgalt]

Boeing is still going strong with its 787 "Dreamliner" program. The advanced, next-generation airliner makes use of 50 percent composite materials and is 20 percent more fuel efficient than the competing Airbus A330.

Boeing has experienced delays with its scheduled test flights, the company today said that the delays -- due to parts shortages and software programming issues -- won't affect deliveries which will being in May of next year.

"It is still our objective to meet that May 2008 delivery but in doing that we have had to compress our flight-test schedule," remarked Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President for Marketing Randy Tinseth.

Many had suspected that the delayed test flights, which are now scheduled to begin between mid-November and mid-December, would push back initial deliveries of the Dreamliner. Boeing, however, is confident that it can complete the mandatory 1,300 hours of in-flight testing and 3,700 of ground testing for full certification before the first deliveries.

"It is an aggressive schedule but we believe we can do it," Tinseth continued.

Photos of the first Dreamliner leaked onto the web in late June. An eager beaver aviation enthusiast was able to snap pictures of the unpainted plane fresh off the assembly line.

Two weeks later, the freshly-painted Dreamliner was rolled out to a crowd of 15,000 people and was viewed by an additional 30,000 people via a two-way satellite feed. As many as 100 million people were able to view the rollout via the Internet.

All Nippon Airways will receive the first batch of Dreamliners. The Japanese airliner has 30 787-3 and 20 787-8 aircraft on order with the option to purchase an additional 50 planes.

Boeing 787 Network Vulnerability Reports "Misleading"
No, you can't crash a Boeing 787 from the in-seat Internet access

Kristopher Kubicki (Blog) - January 7, 2008 10:32 PM
http://www.dailytech.com/Boeing+787+Net ... e10251.htm

[imgalt]http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/6911_787.jpg (Source: Seattle Times)[/imgalt]

As if the next-generation aircraft race between Boeing and Airbus was not convoluted enough, a scathing report from Wired Magazine claims the new 787 Dreamliner aircraft contains serious flaws regarding its internal network security.

Boeing caught flak last year when it announced its standard configuration for the Dreamliner used a wireless passenger network -- dubbed the Passenger Information and Entertainment Domain. Eventually the company reversed its position on wireless networks; opting for the increased bandwidth of a wired network.

A network security analyst ironically interviewed by Wired claimed, "This isn’t a desktop computer. It's controlling the systems that are keeping people from plunging to their deaths. So I hope they are really thinking about how to get this right."

A Boeing engineer, speaking on background, disagrees with the "absurd" Wired post. Strongly. "This is not an issue about hacking an aircraft, this is an issue about how the FAA will regulate the wiring."

The engineer assured DailyTech, "Yes, it's not a desktop computer. Desktop computers don't take tens of billions of dollars and 15 years to engineer."

The FAA cautionary statement, mirrored by transparency advocate Cryptome.org, states the following wordy summary:

The proposed architecture of the 787 is different from that of existing production (and retrofitted) airplanes. It allows new kinds of passenger connectivity to previously isolated data networks connected to systems that perform functions required for the safe operation of the airplane. Because of this new passenger connectivity, the proposed data network design and integration may result in security vulnerabilities from intentional or unintentional corruption of data and systems critical to the safety and maintenance of the airplane.

The statement when not read in its entirety alludes that there are network vulnerabilities -- or at least the possibility for network vulnerabilities -- in the Dreamliner.

Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter claims the document is "misleading" and that such networks do not pose a threat. "There are places where the networks are not touching, and there are places where they are," she adds.

Specifically, one of the two in-flight networks, the Aircraft Information Domain, monitors the number of connections and connectivity of the passenger network.

The FAA would not comment on the document, but states the obvious risks of having such networks coexist pose a potential risk for passengers and crew. The FAA concludes, on record:

The design shall prevent all inadvertent or malicious changes to, and all adverse impacts upon, all systems, networks, hardware, software, and data in the Aircraft Control Domain and in the Airline Information Domain from all points within the Passenger Information and Entertainment Domain.

At the end of the day, the FAA special conditions mandate only claims Boeing must take caution to prevent passenger networks from making changes to its in-flight network. Boeing sures claims

But then again, Boeing sometimes reverses its opinion on things -- on the fly.