A really, really ridiculously good-looking airliner.
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is set to fly this morning at 10 a.m. This is no ordinary airplane: Large-scale use of composites, a more comfortable cabin and super-efficient performance are all combining to let this widebody jet pave the way for the future.
This first flight has been delayed, and the delays have cost Boeing a pretty penny in sales. But when you’re pretty much starting from scratch rather than just replicating the past, you’re bound to have a few bumps. In Boeing’s case, the problems came from strikes and supplier problems.
To me, the bigger windows and higher cabin humidity will make this a comfy ol’ plane. The higher humidity won’t pose a threat to the mostly composite fuselage as it does to a conventional aluminum fuselage. I’m really excited for the 787 to get certified and start hitting the air. Aside from its technical cool factor, it’s also a really, really, ridiculously good-looking airplane.
The Seattle Times, naturally, is not missing this chance to flex its graphics and reporting muscle to cover this. Check out its monster Boeing spread!
