Boeing’s new 787 performs hair-raising vertical take off

Global aircraft giant Boeing Inc unveiled a teaser video on Thursday of its new 787-9 Dreamliner, which demonstrates some of the aircraft's astounding manoeuvring capabilities including a tantalising near-vertical takeoff in Washington state a few days ago.

The airplane is to be showcased in the forthcoming Paris air show next week at Le Bourget airport in the outskirts of the French capital, which attracts a variety of new civilian and military aircraft.

"Watch as Boeing's expert crew rehearses the flying display that will be performed at the 2015 Paris Air Show," Boeing said in a post in the YouTube video.

The $250-million Boeing 787-9 is a member of the 787 family and is 20 feet longer than the 787-8 with more passenger and cargo capacity. The aircraft offers 20 per cent more fuel efficiency over Boeing 767s which it intends to replace, according to the company.

The aircraft which has a higher fuel capacity than the previous model, has a maximum range of around 15,400km and can carry 280 passengers.

Through May 2015, 30 customers from around the world have ordered 509 787-9s, comprising nearly half of all 787 orders. Deliveries of 787-9s commenced last July and the company has delivered 27 aircraft so far. 

The Boeing 787-9 is designed to compete with arch rival Airbus' A330 aircraft, is a medium wide-body twin-engine airplane.

In 2013, Boeing displayed its slightly bigger 787-10, which has a higher capacity of 323 passengers, but shorter range of 13,000km.

Boeing's 787 series, which entered commercial service in September 2011, had to be grounded for about three months during January-April 2013 due to its lithium-ion battery problems. Boeing has orders for 1,105 aircraft and so far 282 have been delivered.

The aircraft giant has forecast the global demand for new airplanes to grow over 38,050 planes in 20 years, valuing the market at approximately $5.6 trillion.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president Randy Tinseth said, "The commercial airplane market continues to be strong and resilient. As we look forward, we expect the market to continue to grow and the demand for new aircraft to be robust."

The company said that the growth will be driven by single-aisle and small / medium twin-aisle segments.

Single aisle aircraft will account for around 50-per cent of the total market while small / medium segments will have about 44 per cent.

In terms of region-wise deliveries, Asia will lead with 34 per cent of the total airplanes followed by North America with 21 per cent and Europe with 19 per cent.