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| Boeing Dreamliner in first flight | Boeing Dreamliner in first flight |
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| 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 had been due to last longer, but the plane landed early amid heavy rain. | |
| The 787 project had been delayed by two-and-a-half years following 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 two test pilots carried out a number of basic system checks, including testing the landing gear and flaps. | The two test pilots carried out a number of basic system checks, including testing the landing gear and flaps. |
| "The airplane responded just as we expected," said Randy Neville, one of the pilots. "It was a joy to fly." | "The airplane responded just as we expected," said Randy Neville, one of the pilots. "It was a joy to fly." |
| The take off and landing was watched by several hundred Boeing employees, industry guests and aircraft enthusiasts. | |
| BBC correspondent Rajesh Mirchandani, who was in Everett to witness the Dreamliner's first take off and landing, said the plane has passed one "crucial milestone". | |
| "There were cheers as the sleek jet, painted in blue and white, lifted off from a cold, damp airfield," he said. | |
| "Afterwards some of the Boeing employees said they felt a sense of excitement and relief." | |
| The Dreamliner will now go into nine months of continuous testing, with six planes flying around the clock. | The Dreamliner will now go into nine months of continuous testing, with six planes flying around the clock. |
| 'Revolutionary project' | '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 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. |
| The newness of the Dreamliner 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 Dreamliner 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. |
| Early delays to the 787 project were caused by shortages of parts and the difficulties of bringing together fuselage and wing structures from Japan, Italy and elsewhere in the US. | Early delays to the 787 project were caused by shortages of parts and the difficulties of bringing together fuselage and wing structures from Japan, Italy and elsewhere in the US. |
| 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." |
| 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. | 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 all the flight tests are completed. | How late the planes are, and how they will perform, will not be known until all the flight tests are completed. |
| Boeing is not the only plane-maker hit by snags though. | Boeing is not the only plane-maker hit by snags though. |
| 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. | 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 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. |
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| Inside Boeing's Dreamliner | Inside Boeing's Dreamliner |