Dreamliner among the clouds
by Pramod de Silva
 Dreamliner. The very name
conjures the sheer romance of travel. But the Dreamliner is no
conventional ship. It is a ship that will fly. Boeing’s answer to Airbus
A380 is finally ready to take to the skies.
The Dreamliner is described as a super-efficient airplane, made of
lightweight composite materials. The 787-8 Dreamliner will carry 210 -
250 passengers on routes of 7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles (14,200 to
15,200 kilometres), while the 787-9 Dreamliner will carry 250 - 290
passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,750
kilometres – enough to cover the Los Angeles-Bangkok sector). A third
787 family member, the 787-3 Dreamliner, will accommodate 290 - 330
passengers and be optimized for routes of 2,500 to 3,050 nautical miles
(4,600 to 5,650 kilometres).
The airplane will use 20 percent less fuel for comparable missions
than today’s similarly sized airplane. It will also travel at speeds
similar to today’s fastest wide bodies, Mach 0.85. The plane will be
safer, incorporating health-monitoring systems that will allow the
airplane to self-monitor and report maintenance requirements to
ground-based computer systems.
Fifty five airlines from six continents have placed orders for 850
airplanes valued at $140 billion. This is a record for Boeing. But
supply and assembly problems have delayed delivery, so Boeing will have
to pay penalty fees to many customers. Boeing is building a new plant in
South Carolina especially for the Dreamliner and the first plane is
expected to get off the ground next year.
 Inside, the Cabin features larger windows, 128-colour combination LED
lighting, more comfortable cabin pressurization, an advanced
air-conditioning system, Wi-Fi, Live TV, Satellite telephony, Internet
and all-new entertainment systems, disabled friendly lavatories and
depending on the airline, normal cellular telephony.
Boeing 777 is already well established in the skies. Although plagued
by delays, the 787 could be the magic formula that Boeing is looking for
to revive its fortunes. |
