Happy landing

I went on the Boeing tour last week and they said they were planning on making this delivery in "2 to 3 weeks". I guess they were early for once. I'm really excited to fly in this plane. Hopefully, it's with ANA.

The Plane!!! The Plane!!!

Gotta give it to them. She's a beautiful bird.

I want one but I'll settle for getting in it.

REALLY looking forward to flying on this!

The designer for the painting should get an award. Nice lines.

More than 35% of the parts of the plane are made in Japan. The wings are built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The engine parts are built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, IHI and Mitsubishi. More than 20 Japanese companies are involved in the production.

She looks a bit plump compared with the 747 and 737, but that translates into more interior space. Can't wait to fly her!

So what's so special about this plane anyway? Is it just big? Which is bigger - this or the A380?

About 18% more fuel efficient - can't be bad?

I read there's a lot of plastic, replacing aluminum, in its construction...

Yeah, a lot of plastics...recycled PET bottles and the like.

"The 787 was designed to become the first production composite airliner, with the fuselage assembled in one-piece composite barrel sections instead of the multiple aluminum sheets and some 50,000 fasteners used on existing aircraft.[24][25] Boeing selected two new engine types to power the 787, the General Electric GEnx and Rolls-Royce Trent 1000.[4] Boeing claimed the 787 would be near to 20 percent more fuel-efficient than the 767,[26] with approximately forty percent of the efficiency gain from the engines,[27] plus gains from aerodynamic improvements,[28] the increased use of lighter-weight composite materials, and advanced systems"

and

"Among 787 flight systems, the most notable contribution to efficiency is the new electrical architecture, which replaces bleed air and hydraulic power sources with electrically powered compressors and pumps, as well as completely eliminating pneumatics and hydraulics from some subsystems (e.g., engine starters or brakes).[150] Another new system is a wing ice protection system that uses electro-thermal heater mats on the wing slats instead of hot bleed air that has been traditionally used.[151][152] An active gust alleviation system, similar to the system used on the B-2 bomber, improves ride quality during turbulence."

For starters....seems like an interesting plane.

Looks nice, but you gotta think the first one off the line is gotta have problems? I really hope not

ops i mean BOEING!!

CrazyJoeSep. 28, 2011 - 04:06PM JST

CrazyJoe, why can't you make something like that or maybe better ones in Japan if 33% of parts are already made in Japan? What has been stopping you? Japan makes the best cars in the world, so this is not a dumb question. Why not? I assure you that I will be flying in planes made in Japan. Anyone has any answer to my simple question why Japan cannot?

How would I know?

I do know the United States Military Government under MacArthur ordered the Japanese to stop development and production of airplanes after WWII. I don' know when the ban was lifted, but maybe this has something to do with it. Maybe.

@crazy joe - I think you mean Fuji Heavy for the wings, parent company of Subaru, and longtime descendant of Nakajima Aircraft Co, who built some very reliable WW2 bombers.

Some issues with steel/ fibre/ resin bonding and the glue/ process, leading to wings needing to be re-made, caused part of the delay.

Boeing 787: coming to an unprofitable air route, nonetheless the flag carrier is still obliged to serve..near you!

The wings (section12) are made by Mitsubishi and Fuji makes the center wing (center box and fairing ).

Wikipedia Japan

globalwatcherSep. 28, 2011 - 06:54PM JST

CrazyJoe, why can't you make something like that or maybe better ones in Japan if 33% of parts are already made in Japan? What has been stopping you? Japan makes the best cars in the world, so this is not a dumb question. Why not? I assure you that I will be flying in planes made in Japan. Anyone has any answer to my simple question why Japan cannot?

It's not about the technology but more to do with after service. An airliner will need various replacement parts and reliable maintenance after service around the world. Something Japanese manufacturers cannot provide at the moment. It's like automobiles, to go into a new market you need serious investment to ensure consumers that maintenance is available no matter how remote the area is. Something not possible without global partnership with a bigger player.

you gotta think the first one off the line is gotta have problems?

The way they test these things, there won't be any "problems", but it also will not live up to its promise. It is heavier than others coming down the line due to the learning curve as it was developed. All aircraft go through that curve, though - that's why aircraft names are hyphenated with -200s and -400s.

Has Boeing’s Dreamliner set a new precedent by being the latest delivered commercial aircraft in commercial aircraft history?

Amazing how the first 787, made by an American aircraft maker, is sold to a Japanese airline.

with the strong yen, it's like buying anything with 30 % off.

I hope ANA don't try to fly this one upside down, like they nearly did with Flight 140 on Sept. 6

The 787 isn't designed to compete with the 747 and 777. Those two planes are aimed at the long-haul, heavily used routes. The 787 is aimed at long-haul routes that wouldn't fill a 747 or 777. Planes are most profitable when they are full of passengers, so a half-empty 777 or 747 flight doesn't make financial sense. Enter the 787 to fill that need. Cheaper to operate and a smaller passenger capacity, so those long flights to less-travelled destinations become more profitable than if they had to use one of the "big birds".

As an American, I am not excited about the fact that 35% of this aircraft was made by Japanese subcontractors, when surely American vendors could have offered the same services and parts at the same rates and quality in this day and age of the high yen, when Americans need to be more broadly employed! I also doubt the wisdom of too much cooperation with potentially predatory foreign subcontactors in areas where US firms maintain present technological superiority and expertise. Keeping technologies to ourselves will assure the business comes to us.

damn, that plane practically dwarfs the buildings in the background....

As an American, I'm not surprised that Boeing outsourced so much of the manufacturing. One of the reasons the plane was delivered late was the 2008 strike by the International Association of Machinists union that shut down production for 8 weeks. Of course, one of THEIR complaints was the outsourcing of jobs that could have been used to increase the ranks of the union (making their future strikes much more crippling to Boeing). One of the results of the strike was Boeing having to agree to guaranteed pay raises amounting to 15.85% over four years. Just tack that huge pay raise onto the cost of building the plane. So the fact that Boeing prefers to outsource doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

My congratulations!

CrazyJoeSep. 28, 2011 - 07:50PM JST

I do know the United States Military Government under MacArthur ordered the Japanese to stop development and production of airplanes after WWII. I don' know when the ban was lifted, but maybe this has something to do with it. Maybe.

Maybe the Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution prohibits production?

SamuraiBlueSep. 28, 2011 - 09:19PM JST

Something not possible without global partnership with a bigger player.

If that's the only issue, Japan has no problem to find a solid partner.

FadamorSep. 29, 2011 - 02:48AM JST

One of the reasons the plane was delivered late was the 2008 strike by the International Association of Machinists union that shut down production for 8 weeks.

I recall that strikes of Boeing. Boeing already received many orders (over 100) of 787. According to what has been reported by CBS, Boeing is supposed to complete 3 sets of 787 a month. That's a great news for a job growth.

FadamorSep. 29, 2011 - 02:48AM JST

Keeping technologies to ourselves will assure the business comes to us.

I am sure most critical manufacturing patents are all kept by Boeing. Hope Boeing will be able to contribute some to jump start US economy that has been so sluggish.

Thank you for all good feedbacks. Happy flying 787!

if face any problem when flying and landing, say your prayer!

I have flown in Boeing planes for almost 40 years No complaints here but my amigos from Cuba When asked to choose a new airplane from Mexicana?? Wow! No Surprise! They all want to fly the nice Mexican planes from Boeing and nothing from the ex Soviet era planes.