BOEING | 787 News & Discussion

[Oasis-Bangkok]

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[nazrey]

[nazrey]

Boeing Postpones 787 First Flight
June 24, 2009 10:19 AM

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- Boeing on Tuesday announced that first flight of the 787 Dreamliner would be postponed due to a need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft.

The need was identified during the recent regularly scheduled tests on the full-scale static test airplane. Preliminary analysis indicated that flight test could proceed this month as planned. However, after further testing and consideration of possible modified flight test plans, the decision was made late last week that first flight should instead be postponed until productive flight testing could occur.

First flight and first delivery will be rescheduled following the final determination of the required modification and testing plan. It will be several weeks before the new schedule is available. The 787 team will continue with other aspects of testing on Airplane #1, including final gauntlet testing and low-speed taxiing. Work will also continue on the other five flight test aircraft and the subsequent aircraft in the production system.

Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes said a team of experts has already identified several potential solutions.

"Consideration was given to a temporary solution that would allow us to fly as scheduled, but we ultimately concluded that the right thing was to develop, design, test and incorporate a permanent modification to the localized area requiring reinforcement. Structural modifications like these are not uncommon in the development of new airplanes, and this is not an issue related to our choice of materials or the assembly and installation work of our team," Carson said.

Boeing's financial guidance will be updated to reflect any impact of these changes when the company issues its second quarter 2009 earnings report in July.

-- BERNAMA

Source: http://bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/new....php?id=420309

[hkskyline]

Japan's ANA 'disappointed' with new delay in Boeing Dreamliner
23 June 2009
Agence France Presse

Japan's All Nippon Airways, the launch customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, said Wednesday it was "disappointed" with a fifth delay in the first flight of the next-generation plane.

Boeing Tuesday delayed the first flight and delivery of its 787 Dreamliner to reinforce the structure of the aircraft, the latest setback in a programme seen as a key to the US aerospace giant's future.

"We are disappointed that the first flight of the 787 will be postponed, and urge Boeing to specify the schedule for the programme as a whole as quickly as possible," All Nippon Airways (ANA) said in a statement.

Boeing had planned for the much-delayed Dreamliner to have its maiden flight by June 30 on a schedule that would allow delivery of the plane to ANA in the first quarter of 2010.

ANA has ordered a record 50 of the jets. The early 2010 launch was already roughly two years later than initially promised.

[hkskyline]

Boeing: No 787 Cancellations From Asia Customers
24 June 2009

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones)--Boeing Co. (BA) said Wednesday that it doesn't expect any order cancellations for its 787 Dreamliner passenger jet from its Asia Pacific customers after the company postponed for the fourth time the plane's first flight because of structural problems.

"We had some cancellations in the past because of the economic downturn, but I don't see any tied to this issue," Yvonne Leach, a Boeing spokeswoman for the 787 told Dow Jones Newswires.

Asia Pacific Airlines contacted by Dow Jones expressed concern over the latest delay of the aircraft but gave no indication about order cancellations.

Leach said that Boeing is in talks with the Asia-based airlines that have ordered the 787 regarding compensation, but declined to say how much this would cost the company.

The 787's first flight was supposed to take place next week, but engineers decided to push it back because unexpected stresses recently discovered would affect the aircraft's maneuverability.

No new date for the first flight or the plane's delivery dates were given. Boeing has more that 800 Dreamliners on order and Japan's All Nippon Airways (9202.TO) is the launch customer. The carrier was supposed to get its first 787 in the first quarter of 2010.

"I can't speculate on the first flight or the new delivery schedule...this is a design issue. It's not going to be a huge setback, it's literally a handful of parts that we need to design and put on the plane. It's a manageable problem."

"But the engineers have to go back and figure out a solution. Once they have it we will have to go through the whole process - design, fabricate the parts and test them. It could be time consuming," she added.

She said engineers will take several weeks to assess the problem and only then Boeing will announce a new date for the first flight and a new delivery schedule.

She also said that a second 787 production line was being considered by Boeing to speed up deliveries "but no decision has been taken."

A senior engineer with an Asian airline which has ordered the 787 said the latest setback could take months to resolve.

"There is no guidance from Boeing and it's difficult to say how long it will take. Boeing is very good with design issues and they will come up with a solution. But if new parts have to be designed and tested, I would say months rather than weeks," he said.

Leach believes the 787's setbacks, which is almost two years late, won't prompt airlines to switch to the Airbus A350, the 787's main competitor whose first delivery is scheduled for 2014.

"The customers with a long-term view will stay with us," she said.

Derek Sadubin, chief operating officer of Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, a Sydney based think tank, said Asian carriers will have mixed feelings about the latest delay.

Carriers like those in India and airlines with weak balance sheets will not be too concerned, but others that need the plane for a competitive advantage like ANA and some Chinese carriers will be quite concerned, he said.

"Some will be quite relieved as they can defer there capital expenditure plans till market conditions improve. But if fuel prices start rising, the 787 becomes an efficient machine that airlines will need," he said.

"But the main game for Asia-Pacific airlines at the moment is to preserve cash," Sadubin added.

Apart from ANA, Asia Pacific customers of the 787, include Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Korean Air and major Chinese and Indian airlines.

ANA said in a statement that it was "disappointed that the first flight of the 787 would be postponed, and urge Boeing to specify the schedule for the program as soon as possible."

ANA also said that it will continue talks with Boeing on compensation for the delays including the latest one, and that it will probably seek to reduce the purchase price of the new jet as compensation.

A spokesman at Japan Airlines Corp. (9205.TO) said there is no change in its order for 35 787 jets with an option to buy 20 additional airplanes, and doesn't know yet how long they have to wait because of the latest delay.

Singapore Airlines Ltd. (CAL.SG) said it has not been informed by Boeing of any change to the delivery schedule. The carrier has ordered 20 787s and the first delivery is scheduled for 2013.

Qantas Airways Ltd. (QAN.AU) said it remains confident that it can meet its timetable for deploying the Dreamliner.

Qantas is "finalizing" its review of its expected 787 deliveries, having firm orders for 65 of the aircraft and rights for an additional 50, Qantas spokesman Simon Rushton said. It was expecting its first delivery in "mid 2010."

"We are disappointed with this news and were advised of the development by Boeing overnight," Rushton said.

"We are confident that we can still meet our proposed timetable," he said.

New Zealand Ltd. (AIR.NZ) also said that it was disappointed by news of the delay and was awaiting advice from Boeing if it would affect the delivery schedule. The carrier is the launch customer of the 787-9 aircraft and has eight panes on order with the first delivery set in early 2013.

Korean Air Co. Ltd (003490.SE) said it has received no official delay notice from Boeing for its 10 B787 Dreamliners - four slated to arrive in 2011 and six later.

India's Jet Airways (532617.BY) said it doesn't expect any delay in the delivery of its 10 787s on order.

"Our delivery dates are far off," Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, Jet's chief executive, told Dow Jones Newswires by phone. "Boeing might come on track with their delivery schedule. We do not foresee any delay in delivery of the planes," he said.

Jet is scheduled to get its first delivery in 2011.

Chinese Airlines - Air China (0753.HK) with 15 Dreamliners on order, China Southern (1055.HK) with 10 and others like China Eastern (CEA), and Hainan Airlines - were not immediately available for comment.

[Messi]

how come there is a second deck in 787?

[siamu maharaj]

-nvm-

[Shezan]

Originally Posted by Messi

how come there is a second deck in 787?

there are some wrong pic: that is a B747-800 render

[Excelsvr]

Qantas cancels order for 15 Dreamliners

June 26, 2009 - 1:09PM
Australia's Qantas cancelled an order for 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, citing dramatic changes to the global economic environment.

"Qantas announced its original B787 order in December 2005, and the operating environment for the world's airlines has clearly changed dramatically since then," Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement.

Joyce said the cancellation, which would save Qantas three billion US US dollars, had not been influenced by the delay of Dreamliner's inaugural flight earlier this week due to a design flaw.

The statement said Qantas and Boeing had also agreed to postpone delivery of a further 15 Dreamliners.

[nomarandlee]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8163038.stm

Boeing eyes Dreamliner solution

Page last updated at 18:53 GMT, Wednesday, 22 July 2009 19:53 UK


Planemaker Boeing says it has found a "technical solution" to a problem which had delayed the appearance of its new 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

However, Boeing did not say when the plane would fly. Last month, Boeing said it had delayed the maiden flight of the Dreamliner once again.

Boeing also reported a 17% rise in second-quarter profits to $998m (£417m), helped by its defence unit.

Overall sales rose 1% to $17.15bn, with defence sales up 9% to $8.7bn.

The Chicago-based company said that it had received 57 new orders during the period, but that 52 existing orders had been cancelled.

Revenue impact

Last month's delay of the Dreamliner was the fifth time the launch date had been put back. The long-range, medium-sized plane is already more than two years behind schedule.

Releasing its second-quarter results, Boeing said it would reveal a new delivery schedule for the 787 in the current financial quarter.

"The 787 programme has identified a technical solution to the previously announced requirement to reinforce an area within the side-of-body joint, and is currently evaluating alternative ways to implement that solution," Boeing said in a statement.

"The company expects to complete its assessment of the schedule and financial implications during the third quarter."

However, analysts were disappointed that Boeing did not announce a permanent fix to the problem.

"As expected, the 787 now looks increasingly likely not to fly at all this year - if that's the case, with 777 production decreasing next year and the likelihood of no 787 deliveries, the impact on revenues for 2010 could be profound," said aerospace analyst Saj Ahmad.

During the second financial quarter the Dreamliner programme had new orders for 13 planes, but orders for 41 planes were cancelled.

The firm said that total confirmed orders were now for 850 aircraft from 56 customers.

Both Boeing and Airbus face dwindling orders for new planes as the global recession hits demand for air travel and cargo services.

..

[Letniczka]

The Seattle Times
Boeing news

Friday, August 14, 2009 - Page updated at 04:30 p.m.
Boeing stops work on 787 fuselages made in Italy to fix wrinkled skin


By Dominic Gates
Seattle Times aerospace reporter

Boeing's technical problems with the 787 Dreamliner go beyond the upper wing join issue publicly acknowledged by the company.

Engineers have discovered wrinkles in the fuselage skin just behind the wing that will require repair work on all the completed fuselage barrels.

Boeing minimized the flaw as "microscopic wrinkles in the skin plies" in just two locations near a fuselage door and said the problem can be fixed with "a simple patch."

"The modification has already been designed and is being installed now (in Charleston,) South Carolina, and will be installed at completed sections in Italy and Everett," Boeing said in a statement.

Still, the wrinkling is serious enough that Boeing's engineers ordered the supplier of the affected section — Alenia of Italy — to stop work on new fuselage barrels until they can complete the fix of the manufacturing process.

Boeing issued a stop-work order June 23, the same day executives announced the indefinite postponement of the Dreamliner's first flight. Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter said that timing was a coincidence, and the first-flight delay came because of an unrelated problem with the upper wing join.

"This [fuselage problem] was not a safety-of-flight issue and would not have caused a delay in first-flight timing," Gunter said.

Stop-work order

The stop-work order states that the already completed fuselage barrels on airplanes from at least No. 7 through No. 29 will have to be repaired. Alenia has already scrapped two fuselage barrels and sectioned portions of them in an attempt to understand the defect.

The problem arises in the manufacture of the longitudinal rods called stringers, used to stiffen fuselage skin.

The edges of the stringers are stepped, and Boeing's specifications require accuracy in the manufacture of those steps to within one-hundredth of an inch.

"Boeing engineering evaluations of the cross-sections provided by Alenia," according to the stop-work order, showed the stringer edges on all the barrels from Dreamliner No. 7 onward "well in excess" of the required dimensions. Airplanes Nos. 5 and 6 are still being evaluated, Gunter said.

If the stringer-edge steps are the wrong depth, the skin around the fuselage wrinkles. When the fuselage subsequently bends — as when an airplane lands, for example — a wrinkled skin could cause the fiber layers to separate and tear, requiring expensive repairs by an airline.

[...]

Boeing has promised to come up with a new schedule for first flight and delivery by the end of September.

more:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/tex..._boeing14.html

[nomarandlee]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...,4080573.story

Boeing 787 Dreamliner prepares for maiden flight
But hurdles remain for vaunted airliner, 2½ years behind schedule

By Julie Johnsson

Tribune reporter

December 13, 2009

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is expected to reach skyward for the first time this week, achieving an important milestone for Boeing Co.

The Chicago-based plane-maker also will gain an opportunity to shift focus to the aircraft's promise and away from the production muddles that set the 787 2 1/2 years behind schedule, costing Boeing billions of dollars.

But more hard work lies ahead for Boeing's engineers before the 787 lives up to the lofty expectations that it will be a game-changer for its fuel savings and long range, which spurred a record 840 orders worth $140 billion for the plane.

The Dreamliner's maiden flight is expected to take place Tuesday morning, sources said, providing the weather cooperates, final tests go smoothly over the weekend and the Federal Aviation Administration gives its approval.

Boeing's customers, suppliers and workers will line the runway adjacent to its giant factory in Everett, Wash., to see the plane depart on a test flight that should end four to five hours later at Boeing Field, south of downtown Seattle.

"It's a reason for a quick glass of Champagne and a prompt return back to work," said Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst with Teal Group, a Virginia-based consulting and market research firm. "At this stage, it really comes down to the aircraft's performance and not their ability to get it airborne."

The company's next major task will be to gain federal certification for the 787 in time to deliver the first aircraft to launch customer All Nippon Airways by the end of 2010 as spelled out by Boeing's latest production plan, the jet's seventh.

Boeing says it is confident it can meet that timetable given the extensive testing on the plane's systems and materials. But analysts think the company likely will need more time to iron out any kinks that come to light during flight-testing. The plane hasn't always performed as computer models predicted, notably failing a stress test on the wing that forced Boeing to call off a planned first flight in late June.

In a Dec. 7 research note, analyst Joseph Nadol of investment bank J.P. Morgan predicted an additional two- to three-month delay, saying, "The 787 still has a tough road ahead to certification and initial deliveries."

Responded Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx: "We are working hard to meet our commitments and get our airplanes to customers who need them."

Until the Dreamliner logs thousands of hours in the air, no one will know whether it lives up to its promise: a midsize plane that offers 20 percent fuel savings over today's aircraft and a range of up to 8,200 nautical miles, which would allow it to fly nonstop from Chicago to Sydney.

Over the past 30 years, Boeing has had a strong track record for delivering airplanes that performed as promised with relatively few glitches.

"I think traditionally we've been able to continue to press the state-of-the-art technology and then get (the plane) into service and where it has been delivered as advertised," said James Bell, Boeing's chief financial officer, at an investor conference last week. "I can't think of a program that we've had in our company's history where we inserted a lot of technologies that at some point wasn't successful and put into the hands of our customers."

But analysts worry that the 787 might break with precedent, given that it uses new materials, a new flight deck and other technological systems, as well as a manufacturing process that leans heavily on third-party contractors.

"It's difficult to really know until we get this flight-test program under their belt whether that was wise or, in hindsight, over-ambitious," said John Strickland, a London-based independent air transport consultant.

Unexpected production and performance are commonplace for new airplanes:

--Airbus' A380 jumbo jet was delayed two years because of wiring issues and is running two years behind schedule.

--Software glitches in Embraer's E190 jets, which are part of JetBlue Airways' fleet, were quickly corrected by the manufacturer. But the problems prompted pilots to nickname the plane the E-180 "because they left the gate and circled back with great regularity," said aviation consultant Robert Mann.

A key issue for Boeing in the months ahead will be to make sure the 787 weighs within a reasonable amount of what it had promised airline customers.

A plane's heaviness affects its economics, from how much fuel it consumes to how much cargo and how many passengers it is able to haul.

Boeing has acknowledged that the first 787 to roll off its assembly line is overweight but hasn't said by how much. Analysts note that some glitches that have come to light have forced Boeing to add more metal to the plane, potentially increasing its weight.

Boeing has said that it expects to pull out weight from the design by the 20th aircraft that rolls off its manufacturing line, since the early aircraft are typically "over-engineered."

In a preliminary planning document for airports released Thursday, Boeing revealed that the maximum takeoff weight for the 787 would be about 3 percent heavier than it had promised. Industry sources said that increase was within the range expected for a new aircraft and didn't signal new problems. In fact, it could mean the opposite, that the plane's structure was stronger than Boeing had anticipated.
"It means we've decided we can carry more fuel," Proulx said of the weight gain. "It does help us meet our range goals."

jjohnsson@tribune.com


Fleets through the years
Chicago-based United Airlines has changed its planes with the times: chicagotribune.com/unitedplanes

...

[nomarandlee]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8408144.stm

Boeing 787 passes key structural tests

Page last updated at 12:59 GMT, Friday, 11 December 2009

Boeing has announced that its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner aircraft has passed final structural tests and is almost ready for its first flight.

The company said in June that a side body section of the plane's structure needed reinforcing. It is now satisfied that the modifications are a success.

There has been a series of delays in the 787's development, which is running almost two years behind schedule.

Boeing has said it hopes to deliver the first plane by the end of 2010.

Fuel efficient

"I am happy to report that the programme has validated the airplane structure for the 787 Dreamliner," said Scott Fletcher at Boeing.

"We are very pleased with the results of this final functional testing. With the successful completion of static testing and this functional testing, our focus now moves to the first flight."

The 787 Dreamliner is a hugely important plane for US-based Boeing in its long-standing rivalry with Europe's Airbus.

It was first unveiled in July 2007 and is the firm's first all-new jet since 1995.

It is designed to make use of carbon fibre to make it much lighter and more fuel-efficient than traditional aluminium planes.

Earlier, Airbus's A400M military transport plane finally took to the skies in Spain for its first test flight.

The programme was launched by parent company EADS six years ago, but has also been dogged by a series of delays and soaring costs.

The first plane was due to go into service this year, but is running at least three years behind schedule.

..

[Henk]

2 movies of the high speed taxi tests from december 12th.

Movie1
Movie2

[Mynameischarlie]

*excited like a small kid with a box full of sweets*

[Petush]

787-10X Development study ????? ......

[GlasgowMan]

Originally Posted by Oasis-Bangkok

image hosted on flickr

Whats the airline logo at the bottom, far end? It looks like the Royal Bank of Scotland logo...

[Momo1435]

It's the RBS logo.

RBS Aviation Capital ordered 25 the planes for several customers, but they have already cancelled this order earlier this year because of their bad financial situation.

[Halawala]

First Flight Today! Cant wait!

[nomarandlee]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091215/...87_flight_test
Boeing determined 787 will finally fly

By GEORGE TIBBITS, Associated Press Writer George Tibbits, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 47 mins ago

EVERETT, Wash. – Weather permitting, Boeing Co. plans to finally get its new 787 jetliner into the air Tuesday, more than two years after it had intended.

The test aircraft completed its ground tests during the weekend, including a 150-mph dash down the runway at Everett's Paine Field during which its nose gear briefly lifted off the pavement. Tuesday morning, pilots Michael Carriker and Randall Neville hope to take the 787 on a four-hour flight over Washington state, beginning the extensive flight test program needed to obtain the plane's Federal Aviation Administration certification.

Before landing at Seattle's Boeing Field, the two-member crew will perform a variety of basic tests and systems checks, said Boeing Commercial Airplanes spokesman Jim Proulx. "They will essentially make sure that the airplane under normal circumstances flies the way it's supposed to fly," he said.

Proulx said good visibility, no standing water at the two airports and gentle or no wind are needed for the initial flight, but he noted it was raining when Boeing's previous all-new airplane, the 777, made its first flight 15 years ago.

Tuesday's forecast called for rain, 10 mph winds and a cloud ceiling at about 1,500 feet, National Weather Service meteorologist Ted Buehner said — nothing to prevent a modern jetliner from flying.

The plane is the first of six 787s Boeing will use in the flight test program, expected to last about nine months and subject the planes to conditions well beyond those found in normal airline service. Chicago-based Boeing, which has orders for 840 787s, plans to make the first delivery to Japan's All Nippon Airways late next year.
The 787 is a radical departure for Boeing: About 50 percent of the plane is made of lightweight composite materials, with large sections produced by suppliers around the globe and assembled by Boeing at Everett. The plane, Boeing says, will be quieter, produce fewer emissions and use 20 percent less fuel than comparable aircraft, while passengers will enjoy a more comfortable cabin with better air quality and larger windows.

But the program has been plagued by ill-fitting parts and other problems. The first flight was supposed to be in 2007 with deliveries the following year, but Boeing has been forced to push that back five times — delays that have cost the company credibility, sales and billions of dollars. Most recently, Boeing said it needed to reinforce the area where the wings join the fuselage, with tests completed on that fix just two weeks ago.

An eight-week strike last year by Seattle-area production workers also hampered the program and was a factor in Boeing choosing North Charleston, S.C., in October as the site for a second 787 assembly line.

The 787 remains Boeing's best-selling new plane to date, though some airlines have been forced to cancel or postpone purchase plans due to the weak global economy.

The version being tested will be able to fly up to 250 passengers about 9,000 miles. A stretch version will be capable of carrying 290 passengers and a short-range model up to 330.

___