The year's top flying machines
December 31st 2011 12:24
Boeing 787 Dreamliner enters service
In October, Boeing's 787 Dreamliner finally went from a dream, a prototype, a test plane, and a show-off to a fully functional, passenger-carrying commercial airliner. On October 25, it flew a charter flight, in the service of All Nippon Airways, from Tokyo to Hong Kong with around 230 passengers tucked into its upholstered seats. That milestone was supposed to have been reached in May 2008.
With some justification, Boeing has proclaimed the 787 the "first all-new airplane of the 21st century," despite its rather conventional design. A lot of that has to do with the heavy use of composite materials in its main structure, along with a bevy of high-tech features including sensors and controls designed to minimize turbulence. The Dreamliner is also designed to be notably quieter and significantly more fuel-efficient.
Author: Jonathan E. Skillings
Credit: Boeing
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