787 first flight this afternoon...

Captain_Slick · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:43

Aod said:
i don't think the A350's such a big threat to Boeing. the A350 will be late to the party like the A380 was - the 787's getting all the orders, and when the A350 arrives the (predicted) 8% increase in efficiency will not be enough to tempt airlines to replace their brand new $170 million dollar aircraft.

It's not going to replace 787s. Operators will hold on until the A350 appears before ordering either. Or they'll order both, such as those now operating 777/A340s. The 787 won't replace those, the A350 will.

Aod · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:48

Captain_Slick said:
It's not going to replace 787s. Operators will hold on until the A350 appears before ordering either. Or they'll order both, such as those now operating 777/A340s. The 787 won't replace those, the A350 will.

but the point is, the 787 is here already, and the A350 isn't.

Boeing have already received more than eight hundred orders for the 787, i can't imagine airbus having received even a tenth of that.

by the time the A350 goes into production in (predicted) 2013, a very large number of 787 orders will have already been fulfilled. i can't see how you can think that this is a winning situation for Airbus? they've simply been beaten to the mark by Boeing.

Boeing were concentrating on the 787, which was what the industry wanted, while airbus were wasting time on the A380, which the industry didn't want, need or could afford.

<edit>
My apologies, it appears that there have been over five hundred orders for the A350 - this complicates the situation immensely. i'm not so sure anymore.

Captain_Slick · 19 Jul 2010 at 18:51

Aod, you've got to remember that people said the same thing about the 777, since the A33X/A34X family had been out for a few years already. Didn't stop them being a success, and for operators who've only just received their last 777s/A340s in the past few years, the A350 will be their replacement - not the 787.

If the A350 is good enough, it will be a success. It's going after a bigger market than the 787 so it's still got everything to play for. The 787 doesn't replace the 777s/A340s and that will be Boeing's mistake unless they get a bigger model out before Airbus roll out the A350-1000 (or whatever it may end up being called).

Energize · 19 Jul 2010 at 19:11

Justin said:
It's not a replacement as such, but uses newer technologies and is engineered from (arguably) better materials which is great for the current obsession with producing far more 'green' aircraft.

I think by "green" you mean profitable.

Airlines are having financial problems and reducing fuel costs is one of the top priorities.

Feek · 19 Jul 2010 at 19:21

Fegruson said:
Did anyone else notice how quick it stopped? Is that normal? Do they just take longer to slow down normally for passenger comfort?

I thought that too, that was one really short stopping distance.

It's a very nice looking aircraft, I really like the minimal Boeing livery but I still prefer the iconic look of the 744.

Amp34 · 19 Jul 2010 at 19:36

TBH I'd love to get worked up about a commercial aeroplane but in reality (even with all the "new features" etc.) unless you pay 3-10 times more than you pay now you will still be in for a cramped, uncomfortable ride...

Glaucus · 19 Jul 2010 at 19:40

there's been various concepts to massively reduce noise and fuel, have any of them got any far in research.. Most seem to be flying wings or at least radically different to, todays planes. Seem to remember most noise comes from the airframe and sudden change in angles, rather than engines.

Slam62 · 19 Jul 2010 at 19:42

it's a rather generic airliner if you ask me.

From what I understand they have already sold a lot of a350s (could be 500) so they must be doing something right with it.

Aod · 19 Jul 2010 at 19:45

Slam62 said:
it's a rather generic airliner if you ask me.

From what I understand they have already sold a lot of a350s (could be 500) so they must be doing something right with it.

they've had a lot of orders for the A350, yes. they've had a lot more orders for the 787 though

Nymins · 19 Jul 2010 at 19:47

Fegruson said:
Did anyone else notice how quick it stopped? Is that normal? Do they just take longer to slow down normally for passenger comfort?

I noticed that too! Very short indeed. Had to reply it again to make sure the video didn't skip foward.

Cosimo · 21 Jul 2010 at 09:51

It's gone:

Cosimo · 27 Sep 2011 at 08:33

A wee bump.

After three years of delays Boeing has officially delivered its first 787 Dreamliner to Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA):

Yes, a decent link from the DM:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...ality-carbon-fibre-plane-delivered-Japan.html

Cosimo · 26 Oct 2011 at 15:10

Another bump.

The Dreamliner lands it's first passenger flight:

http://translate.google.com/transla...t-ana-boeing-787-arrived-hong-kong-welcoming/

Cosimo · 3 Aug 2012 at 07:45

Climb aboard for a look:

jimhaumman · 3 Aug 2012 at 07:54

when are we going to see them in Europe?don't think easyjet bought any though.
pilot cabin looks really cool.

Baz · 3 Aug 2012 at 08:44

Thomson are the first UK airline to get them, they are quite proud of that, though I doubt the planes will be used to travel people to europe, more likely Caribbean etc long haul.

kiteloopy · 3 Aug 2012 at 09:15

This thing is so quiet.

The farnborough airshow jets fly over my office building, the eurofighter sets off the window anti-break-in alarms. This jet is just a whisper, amazing.