Boeing 787 first flight a key milestone, not end of road

Seattle P I ^ | December 14, 2009 7:00 p.m. | Aubrey Cohen

[skeptoid]

Boeing released the first artist's conception of what it then called the 7E7 on Jan. 29, 2003. The company's board green-lighted the project that December and Japan's All Nippon Airways placed the jet's launch order on April 26, 2004, with first deliveries expected in 2008.

Boeing now has orders for 840 787 Dreamliners -- a record for a new aircraft. And Tuesday's scheduled first flight is key to showing the composite jet is on track for delivery to All Nippon Airways in the fourth quarter of 2010 and other customers soon after that.

That delivery date, however, depends on an extremely ambitious schedule of flight testing and certification.

[skeptoid]

Good blog article - SNIP . . The real question will be whether the initial production aircraft meet Boeing's promised performance,

SNIP . . if the 787 disappoints in any way, the A350's going to be in a very good position."

First flight today at 10 am PST!

[Thermalseeker]

Ten years from green-light to first flight.

For an airliner.

I’m glad we’re not fighting World War II right now.

Using the best CAD/CAM system on the planet and seven decades of experience under their belt......

[skeptoid]

Yeah, but this is the most innovative airliner in terms of materials, technology and manufacturing; 50% (nonmetalic) composite by weight, no bleed air, electric brakes, prefabbed sections flown to final assembly, etc, AND 840 orders BEFORE it ever flies.

[Thermalseeker]

Yeah, but this is the most innovative airliner in terms of materials, technology and manufacturing; 50% (nonmetalic) composite by weight...

There's nothing new about the use of composite components in aircraft, just on Boeing aircraft. Composites have been used on airplanes since the WWII era. Airplanes made entirely of composite materials have been flying since the late 1950's.

[B-Chan]

Thanks, anyway.

[B-Chan]

I’m sure our enemy in the next war will take all that into account.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I’m sure our enemy in the next war will take all that into account.

I believe the planes needed are already in the air and have been since 1952.

[skeptoid]

But never before this size and complete fuselage barrels with a lot of stuff installed, and never before the complete wing structure.

Unprecidented

[skeptoid]

How are delays in the 787 program military readiness?

[skeptoid]

unprecedented, that is

[Yo-Yo]

Boeing's First Flight site, including streaming video (if the flight happens today.)

http://787firstflight.newairplane.com/ffindex.html

[antiRepublicrat]

We’ve had small planes flying composites, especially many of Burt Rutan’s designs. However, I think this is the first time anybody tried building a full airliner with mostly composite structural components, it is definitely the first airliner with a completely composite fuselage.

It’s easy to make a little prop two-seater out of composites, but quite a bit harder for a large airliner.

[Thermalseeker]

It’s easy to make a little prop two-seater out of composites, but quite a bit harder for a large airliner.

Not really, it just hasn't been tried with airliners. Ever seen a B-2? That's a big old carbon fiber airframe and it's been flying for more than 20 years. I work with composites every day and they scale up very nicely, especially carbon. Certainly more involved just by the nature of the size, but there isn't anything magical about scaling up to this size with composites. What you are reading is all fluff put out by Boeing to sell stock. Take a look at Aviation Week sometime and you'll see what I mean. It surprises me that it took them this long to seriously consider the use of composites.....

[Thermalseeker]

and never before the complete wing structure.

Only with airliners. The B-2 is entirely made of carbon and it's been flying for 20+ years.....

Unprecidented

Hey! That's Obamalamadingdong's word. Did you axe for permission to use it?

[TalonDJ]

The B-2 is entirely made of carbon

No it isn't. If you don't understand the differences don't post as if you know anything about aerospace design.

[Thermalseeker]

No it isn't. If you don't understand the differences don't post as if you know anything about aerospace design.

Okay, not entirely. There is some steel, various aluminum alloys, titanium and magnesium used, but the bulk of the airframe on the B-2 is indeed built from composite, primarily carbon fiber. My point was to show that composites scale up quite well. As I said, I work with composites, on airplanes, every day. I can bury you with composite material science if you'd like.....

[skeptoid]

Brilliant comparison

787: commercial airliner built to carry 292, kill no one and generate profits - cost $150,000,000

B-2: stealthy flying wing built to carry 3, kill people and break things - 120 hrs maintainence per 1 hr of flight - cost - $2,100,000,000

[Thermalseeker]

Brilliant comparison

I was comparing size, not the intended use, but you already knew that. BTW, you are aware that for years Airbust has been making airliners using composite components, building them in sections in various places, then flying them to a main facility for final assembly, right?

I guess I'm not as easily impressed as you are....