Dream becomes reality as Boeing's new carbon-fibre 787 Dreamliner heralds a new age of air travel

Daily Mail ^ | Sept. 26, 2011 | Rob Waugh

[RckyRaCoCo]

CNBC program on 787 tomorrow night.

[Lazlo in PA]

That's a real neat bird. What I enjoyed was the last photo. If this was the Gov't, they would have had 3 of these stairs made and when the mistake was noticed, they would have scraped all three and made 3 new ones with the proper 787 on it. What's Boeing in the private sector do? Can of spray paint.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Can’t quite makenout the writing, does it say “made in China”

[datura]

Might as well - it’s made here in Renton WA by the machinist’s union. I’ve watched them fly overhead many times now - quite the bird. Quiet.

[giotto]

It offers hi-tech entertainment with Android touchscreens built into every seat

I'd rather have a parachute, and maybe a fire-proof tarp.

[RitchieAprile]

Boeing has no choice - even the enginerds are union.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I doubt it’s a mistake. Probably just wanted something fast to use and modified their 777 stairway.

I am wondering about the wistful blue thing on the hull by the stair bumper, though. Overspray?

[Lazlo in PA]

I doubt it’s a mistake. Probably just wanted something fast to use and modified their 777 stairway.

The 777 was a mistake. Not the stairs. They just tuned them up to adapt to the new nomenclature. The blue thing I think is a rag to protect the fuselage, maybe.

[null and void]

I am wondering about the wistful blue thing on the hull by the stair bumper, though. Overspray?

Blue ice from the crapper...

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

In my opinion its junk.This is designed obsolescence.When birds have reached so many cycles they are deemed old and not suitable for hauling passengers.The second life is hauling freight for the various companies like fedex and ups and dhl.When you poke a hole in the side of it makes it junk.I wouldnt trust a repair on plastic.They think they know what time X will be on these airframes.I'd hate to be the one that finds that out the hard way.

[Rummyfan]

I am wondering about the wistful blue thing on the hull by the stair bumper, though. Overspray?

I think that's a rag.....

[volunbeer]

I wouldnt trust a repair on plastic.They think they know what time X will be on these airframes.I’d hate to be the one that finds that out the hard way.

---

To play devil’s advocate. I remember when everyone at the gun show said the same thing about the Glock. Something along the lines of “cheap plastic piece of crap”. Everyone is making plastic guns now..... I wonder why?

[tony549]

I used to work in aerospace. Airliners made from aluminum alloys have a definite fatigue life. Past a certain number of cycles, they’re no longer trustworthy without extensive inspections and/or overhaul (to include re-skinning or replacement of structural members). I’m not that familiar with carbon fiber composites, but I’ve heard that properly designed and fabricated composites are stronger by weight than steel, and have have better fatigue life than aluminum alloys. I’m sure the 787 structures have been extensively tested at the coupon, and airframe level to validate predicted life; that’s how we did it in the rocket engine business. I would be more than willing to fly on a 787 versus an old plane. Remember the Aloha Airline 737 that turned into an open top airplane? That’s metal fatigue in action.

[Haiku Guy]

There is no highway in the sky. But I would be a heck of a lot more confident in a high-cycle carbon fiber structure than I would in a high-cycle aluminum structure. Composites may have issues, but aluminum metal fatigue is a known and even bigger issue.

The big thing about composites is build quality. I trust Boeing to get this right.

[aruanan]

But I would be a heck of a lot more confident in a high-cycle carbon fiber structure than I would in a high-cycle aluminum structure.

Will a lightning strike set it on fire?

[aruanan]

But I would be a heck of a lot more confident in a high-cycle carbon fiber structure than I would in a high-cycle aluminum structure.

Will a lightning strike set it on fire?

Sort of like this:

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

My passion is old airplanes(metal)restorations namely B-17s.The plane we are working on now just turned 70 years old and is still going strong.70 years.You wont see that with the plastic birds.I’ll dance with the one that brung me.:)

[NCC-1701]

Is there any of the original metal on that bird that was there when it rolled of the assembly line? I wonder about that when the B-52 is brought up. Some of those birds are decades old. How much of the original aircraft still exists and still flying? Boeing does build some VERY GOOD aircraft. Always have. Hopefully always will.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Most of the 17s flying are majority original manufactured parts.We are starting to rebuild wrecks that 20 years ago were not worth the rebuild costs.They are now and will be majority new metal but will be built to original specs.(We’re picky sumbitches)