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| Boeing Dreamliner in first flight | Boeing Dreamliner in first flight |
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| Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has taken off on its first test flight - almost two and a half years late. | Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has taken off on its first test flight - almost two and a half years late. |
| The flight is due to last around four hours, as the two pilots examine how the Dreamliner operates. | |
| The plane had been grounded by a series of hitches, including design problems, strikes and even a shortage of bolts. | |
| Boeing has pegged its hopes for the future on the Dreamliner, which promises to be one of the most fuel-efficient in the world. | |
| It has attracted some 840 orders from all over the globe, although some have been cancelled because of the delays. | It 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. |
| "They [the pilots] will essentially make sure that the airplane under normal circumstances flies the way it is supposed to," said Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx. | |
| 'Revolutionary project' | 'Revolutionary project' |
| 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. |
| The Dreamliner will now go into nine months of continuous testing, with six planes flying around the clock. Boeing executives say it will be like running a small airline. | The Dreamliner will now go into nine months of continuous testing, with six planes flying around the clock. Boeing executives say it will be like running a small airline. |
| 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. |
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| Inside Boeing's Dreamliner | Inside Boeing's Dreamliner |