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1. Farnborough
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The first Boeing 787 flew back in 2009, entering the scene as the expected replacement of the Boeing 747—an aircraft that was steeped in history but was also aging rapidly. Since then, we’ve seen the 787 evolve to accommodate the needs of airlines looking to create longer routes and travelers who are willing to fly insanely long distances non-stop.
The Boeing 787-9 is the next step in super-long distance air travel, and it won’t be the last. Will 20-hour flights become the new normal? Hello, blood clots. At this year’s Farnborough air show, the Boeing 787-900 made its debut. It can carry 280 passengers, which is nearly 40 more than the 787-800.
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2. Sideways Takeoff
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The 787 made its very first public appearance at an international air show at the Farnborough Airshow. While it was not a text book take off it did show the remarkabe stability and strength of the design.
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3. Backswept Wing
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In 2010, the 787 finished an ultimate wing load test. This required that the aircraft was loaded to 150% of design limit load and held for 3 seconds. As you can see, the wing sweeps up.
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4. Boeing 787-9 Cockpit
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The 787 has a “fly-by-wire” control system, and its flight deck contains LCD multi-function displays.
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5. Heads-Up Display
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Reminiscent of a fighter aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 utilizes a head-up display, or HUD, which overlays electronic information about the pilot’s view.
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6. The Shark-Fin Nose
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The nose of the aircraft was supposed to be much more of a shark fin in its design concept. It turned out to closely resemble the Boeing 757.
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7. Comes in GE or Rolls-Royce
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It comes in General Electric or Rolls-Royce engines, but both are designed with efficiency in mind. Boeing has previously stated that the 787 would be around 20 percent more fuel efficient than the Boeing 767.
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8. First One Has Rolls Royce Engines
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The very first certified model of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has a pair of Rolls Royce engines.
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9. Auto Tinting Windows
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787s have larger windows than other Boeing planes, plus they can digitally tint by just pressing a button.
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10. The near vertical take off
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Enjoy the ride! Watch as the 787 takes off in near vertical fashion.
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11. Submarine Style Tanks for Ballast Control
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Weight distribution is a huge component of long range aircraft. The Boeing 787 is able to shift its weight by transferring water throughout its ballast tanks.
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12. Measuring True Air Pressure
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The back portion of the aircraft has colled tubing used to measure the true air pressure and compare it with varying levels of pressure near the plane.
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13. Incredible Quiet Design
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The 787-9 design has quietness and comfort in mind. You’ll hear minimal noises as you cruise for 10+ hours.
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14. Remote Power Distribution Units
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Rather than having to run power cables out of a central electronics bay, RPDUs run power close to the equipment that needs it.
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15. Freshly Painted
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There’s nothing quite prettier than a freshly painted aircraft, especially when that aircraft is one of the most technologically advanced engineering feats in modern history.
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16. Those Wheels
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The 787-900 needs additional protection against tail strikes, and because of this, a semi levered landing gear enables rotation over the aft wheels like the 777-300ER.
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17. Capt. Randy Neville
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Captain Randy Neville is Boeing’s 787 chief pilot who has been flying the 787-9 during demonstrations and tests. Eat your heart out Alan Shepard.
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18. It Has a Very Advanced Airframe
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The 787 is a long-haul, mid-size widebody jet airliner and was built to accommodate up to 335 passengers at a time. It’s the first airliner ever built whose airframe is composed mostly of composite materials, making it light and strong.
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19. A Plane of the Future
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The 787 is a very technologically advanced airliner. It boasts electrical flight systems, raked wingtips and noise-reducing engine nacelle chevrons. It shares the same type rating as the Boeing 777, so pilots are licensed to fly both planes.
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20. It's Made Of Parts From Many Countries
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The 787 was originally supposed to be named the 7E7 and was then renamed to the 787 in 2005. The first 787 debuted on July 8, 2007. While the planes are constructed of parts from all over the world, they are assembled at the Boeing Everett Factory in Washington and the Boeing South Carolina factory in North Charleston.
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21. Viewing The Solar Eclipse From a 787
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On a flight aboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, passengers were able to get a front-row seat to the solar eclipse. The passengers aboard the London-to-Miami flight were given special glasses to view the eclipse safely.
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22. It's A Hit
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The first 787 entered commercial service on October 26, 2011. The plane, a stretched 787-9 variant, was operated by All Nippon Airways. Air New Zealand was the next adopter. As of November of this year, Boeing had received 1,287 orders for 787s, to be delivered to 67 customer airlines.
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23. It's Had Problems With Its Batteries
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The 787 has encountered a few problems since it went into service. Its lithium-ion batteries have caused issues, including fires while planes were in the air. In January of 2013, the FAA ordered all 787s in the United States be grounded. Other civil aviation authorities did the same around the world. They were allowed to fly again in April, with a revamped design.
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24. The Airbus A380
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Boeing is in direct competition with Airbus for market dominance. Boeing has pitted its 787 against a new offering from Airbus called the A380 (the big one on top). The A380 is an enormous plane, built to accommodate up to 800 passengers. Boeing appears to be winning.
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25. The Airbus Is Insanely Luxurious
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While the 787 was designed with the average coach passenger in mind, the A380 was made to appeal to elites. In addition to two decks of seating, the A380 also has sleeper cabins, cocktail lounges and even gyms. The 787 has proved about twice as popular and Airbus is now considering discontinuing the A380.
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26. It's An Enormous Airliner
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The A380 is the largest passenger airliner in the world. It’s so big that airports where they operate have had to upgrade their facilities just to accommodate it. It was first used commercially by Singapore Airlines in October of 2007.
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27. Which Will Prevail?
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Only time will tell whether the Airbus A380 will be able to stand toe-to-toe with the Boeing 787. As stated before, it looks as if the tides are turning firmly in Boeing’s favor. We can probably expect to be flying on 787s for many years to come.
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