Boeing’s second 787 Dreamliner to fly from Washington today
22 Dec 2009
According to Boeing its second 787 Dreamliner will take-off today from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, if flight conditions allow.
The first 787 took to the skies to the cheers of around 25,000 people last Tuesday (See: ''Historic day'' for Boeing as the 787 Dreamliner debuts). The 787 marks a significant advance in commercial aviation with its mostly light weight composite material construction.
However, the progrmamme itself has been bedeviled with numerous problems, ill-fitting parts being one. The new aircraft's maiden flight was planned for 2007 but Boeing had to push it back five times.
Japan's All Nippon Airways will take the delivery of the first 787 late next year. Boeing has at present 840 jets on its order books.
Meanwhile, speculation of Boeing taking over the North Charleston, South Carolina facility that makes the Dreamliner mid-fuselage was fueled by an all-hands meeting at the facility called early on Tuesday.
Boeing along with its Italian 787 partner, Alenia Aeronautica operates the facility as a 50-50 joint venture. The plant is known as Global Aeronautica (GA).