This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8413466.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 11 | Version 12 |
|---|---|
| Boeing Dreamliner in first flight | Boeing Dreamliner in first flight |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner passenger aircraft has successfully completed its first test flight in the US. | Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner passenger aircraft has successfully completed its first test flight in the US. |
| The three-hour flight started and finished from Everett near Seattle. It was due to last longer, but the plane landed early because of heavy rain. | |
| The 787 project had been delayed by two and a half years, due to a series of hitches, including design problems. | The 787 project had been delayed by two and a half years, due to a series of hitches, including design problems. |
| Boeing has pegged its hopes to the Dreamliner, which promises to be one of the world's most fuel-efficient planes. | Boeing has pegged its hopes to the Dreamliner, which promises to be one of the world's most fuel-efficient planes. |
| The take off and landing was watched by several thousand Boeing employees, industry guests and aircraft enthusiasts. | |
| "It's a major step-off point to the ultimate goal which is certification and customer delivery," said Clay Jones, chief executive of aviation business Rockwell Collins. | |
| "It's an important milestone but it's not the end goal." | |
| The Dreamliner will now go into nine months of continuous testing, with six planes flying around the clock. | |
| 'Revolutionary project' | |
| The Dreamliner has attracted some 840 orders from all over the globe, although some have been cancelled because of the delays. | The Dreamliner has attracted some 840 orders from all over the globe, although some have been cancelled because of the delays. |
| Its popularity is partly thanks to its lightweight design. Made of carbon and titanium, it should reduce fuel consumption as well as save on maintenance costs. | Its popularity is partly thanks to its lightweight design. Made of carbon and titanium, it should reduce fuel consumption as well as save on maintenance costs. |
| ANALYSIS By Jorn Madslien, Business reporter, BBC News | ANALYSIS By Jorn Madslien, Business reporter, BBC News |
| Some 840 orders for the 787 Dreamliner makes the plane worth about $140bn (£86bn) for Boeing. | Some 840 orders for the 787 Dreamliner makes the plane worth about $140bn (£86bn) for Boeing. |
| But first, the aerospace giant must get the plane ready for delivery to airlines. | But first, the aerospace giant must get the plane ready for delivery to airlines. |
| Analysts warn that the maiden flight is just a step towards that goal, not a sign that everything is fine. | Analysts warn that the maiden flight is just a step towards that goal, not a sign that everything is fine. |
| The 787 is already 30 months behind schedule and there could be further delay as the aircraft begins test flights and seeks federal certification | The 787 is already 30 months behind schedule and there could be further delay as the aircraft begins test flights and seeks federal certification |
| Boeing says it will deliver the plane to customers by the end of 2010. Analysts say that is a very optimistic timetable. Boeing hopes 787 flight marks end of troubles | Boeing says it will deliver the plane to customers by the end of 2010. Analysts say that is a very optimistic timetable. Boeing hopes 787 flight marks end of troubles |
| The design aims to make the plane nimble and able to fly long distances without refuelling. | The design aims to make the plane nimble and able to fly long distances without refuelling. |
| Howard Wheeldon, a transport analyst with BGC Partners, told the BBC World Service that it was a revolutionary project which would reshape aviation. | Howard Wheeldon, a transport analyst with BGC Partners, told the BBC World Service that it was a revolutionary project which would reshape aviation. |
| "This is an aircraft that changes the whole basis of flying, because of the equipment onboard," he said. | "This is an aircraft that changes the whole basis of flying, because of the equipment onboard," he said. |
| "In terms of the cost of operation this is an 80% composite material aircraft, with 35 tonnes of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, so it is a light aircraft - which means it burns less fuel." | "In terms of the cost of operation this is an 80% composite material aircraft, with 35 tonnes of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic, so it is a light aircraft - which means it burns less fuel." |
| Its arch-rival, Airbus, also has a lightweight craft in development. Its A350 plane will also be made primarily from carbon-composite materials. | Its arch-rival, Airbus, also has a lightweight craft in development. Its A350 plane will also be made primarily from carbon-composite materials. |
| Airbus is also targeting a different market with its giant A380, a craft that can carry far larger numbers of passengers although it is limited to flying to those airports that are equipped for the double-decker aircraft. | Airbus is also targeting a different market with its giant A380, a craft that can carry far larger numbers of passengers although it is limited to flying to those airports that are equipped for the double-decker aircraft. |
| Battle for the skies | Battle for the skies |
| The newness of the design has meant a steep learning curve for Boeing and that, and the fact that the company ventured into wide-ranging outsourcing for the first time, has led to a raft of problems. | The newness of the design has meant a steep learning curve for Boeing and that, and the fact that the company ventured into wide-ranging outsourcing for the first time, has led to a raft of problems. |
| Mr Wheeldon said: "There is a huge test programme - because everything is new. Essentially, it has to be proven, and proven again." | Mr Wheeldon said: "There is a huge test programme - because everything is new. Essentially, it has to be proven, and proven again." |
| He added: "It is the first truly international partnership within commercial aircraft. In other words it is being built in component form by various companies all over the world." | He added: "It is the first truly international partnership within commercial aircraft. In other words it is being built in component form by various companies all over the world." |
| Early delays were caused by shortages of parts and the difficulties of bringing together fuselage and wing structures from Japan, Italy and elsewhere in the United States. | Early delays were caused by shortages of parts and the difficulties of bringing together fuselage and wing structures from Japan, Italy and elsewhere in the United States. |
| Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst at research firm Teal Group, said: "It [the first flight] will provide a badly needed perception that the programme is on some kind of schedule again, but it's still a long way from the ultimate result." | Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst at research firm Teal Group, said: "It [the first flight] will provide a badly needed perception that the programme is on some kind of schedule again, but it's still a long way from the ultimate result." |
| Exactly how much profit Boeing can expect to make from the plane is uncertain. | Exactly how much profit Boeing can expect to make from the plane is uncertain. |
| Analysts say the company has invested more than $10bn in the project, and will have to give some sort of compensation to customers for late planes. How late the planes are, and how they will perform, will not be known until these flight tests are complete. | Analysts say the company has invested more than $10bn in the project, and will have to give some sort of compensation to customers for late planes. How late the planes are, and how they will perform, will not be known until these flight tests are complete. |
| Delivery delays | Delivery delays |
| The 787 was first unveiled in July 2007 and is Boeing's first all-new jet since 1995. | The 787 was first unveiled in July 2007 and is Boeing's first all-new jet since 1995. |
| Boeing is not the only planemaker hit by snags. Earlier this month, Airbus's A400M military transport plane finally took to the skies in Spain for its first test flight after a series of delays. | Boeing is not the only planemaker hit by snags. Earlier this month, Airbus's A400M military transport plane finally took to the skies in Spain for its first test flight after a series of delays. |
| The first Dreamliner was due to go into service this year, but the programme is running more than a year behind schedule. | The first Dreamliner was due to go into service this year, but the programme is running more than a year behind schedule. |
| Boeing has said it hopes to deliver the first plane by the end of 2010 to Japan's All Nippon Airlines. | Boeing has said it hopes to deliver the first plane by the end of 2010 to Japan's All Nippon Airlines. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Inside Boeing's Dreamliner | Inside Boeing's Dreamliner |