Post by corsair67 on Nov 9, 2006 15:05:24 GMT 12
No doubt Boeing will be hoping that the production of the 787 won't be anything like the A380s!
From The Australian.
Fat chance: 'overweight' Boeing still on schedule
Steve Creedy
November 09, 2006.
QANTAS executives can breathe a little easier after US aircraft manufacturer Boeing yesterday expressed confidence that it could address weight problems with its 787 "Dreamliner" and predicted the new plane would be delivered on schedule.
The national carrier has firm orders for 45 of the next-generation aircraft and will use them to underpin the growth plans of its Jetstar International subsidiary when deliveries begin in 2008.
Boeing's vice-president of the 787 program, Mike Bair, yesterday said the manufacturer was making "great progress" as it moved from the design phase to building the aircraft.
He said the airline was on track for its first flight in August next year with the first delivery in May, 2008.
With 432 firm orders and a further 23 commitments from 36 customers, the 787 is Boeing's most successful program ever and production slots are booked out to 2013. It has more than double the start-up orders of its previous most successful program, the 737NG. Mr Bair said Boeing now believed the overall operating cost of the 787 would be 2-3percent better than originally thought, with reliability and maintenance costs also improving.
"The airplane's coming together. It's coming together pretty much as we anticipated and it's going to be a world-beater," Mr Bair said.
Boeing has admitted the 787 is up to 2268kg overweight and that it has had problems with some of its suppliers falling behind schedule.
Mr Bair said extra weight was spread through the plane, but constituted just a couple of per cent of its overall mass.
He said the the manufacturer had identified where the weight was and was optimising parts to reduce it.
He said some parts, such as brackets, would be made with titanium rather heavier aluminium.
The new aircraft will be a "virtual rollout" in December, where the company will simulate construction of an aircraft to ensure it will assemble as planned. A modified jumbo jet designed to carry 787 parts is expected to be certified for operation early next year.
From The Australian.
Fat chance: 'overweight' Boeing still on schedule
Steve Creedy
November 09, 2006.
QANTAS executives can breathe a little easier after US aircraft manufacturer Boeing yesterday expressed confidence that it could address weight problems with its 787 "Dreamliner" and predicted the new plane would be delivered on schedule.
The national carrier has firm orders for 45 of the next-generation aircraft and will use them to underpin the growth plans of its Jetstar International subsidiary when deliveries begin in 2008.
Boeing's vice-president of the 787 program, Mike Bair, yesterday said the manufacturer was making "great progress" as it moved from the design phase to building the aircraft.
He said the airline was on track for its first flight in August next year with the first delivery in May, 2008.
With 432 firm orders and a further 23 commitments from 36 customers, the 787 is Boeing's most successful program ever and production slots are booked out to 2013. It has more than double the start-up orders of its previous most successful program, the 737NG. Mr Bair said Boeing now believed the overall operating cost of the 787 would be 2-3percent better than originally thought, with reliability and maintenance costs also improving.
"The airplane's coming together. It's coming together pretty much as we anticipated and it's going to be a world-beater," Mr Bair said.
Boeing has admitted the 787 is up to 2268kg overweight and that it has had problems with some of its suppliers falling behind schedule.
Mr Bair said extra weight was spread through the plane, but constituted just a couple of per cent of its overall mass.
He said the the manufacturer had identified where the weight was and was optimising parts to reduce it.
He said some parts, such as brackets, would be made with titanium rather heavier aluminium.
The new aircraft will be a "virtual rollout" in December, where the company will simulate construction of an aircraft to ensure it will assemble as planned. A modified jumbo jet designed to carry 787 parts is expected to be certified for operation early next year.
