787 Dreamliner: Wheels up for 6 seconds today!

[GTaudiophile]

Here is the video.

First flight is suppose to take place next week

 

[CRXican]

good timing

 

[alphatarget1]

Boeing>>>>Airbus

 

[ElFenix]

only 2 years late now?

 

[iGas]

Boeing>>>>Airbus

A380 first flight is in 2005 and first commercial flight is 2007.

787 first flight unknow (could be this month, but it could be well into 2010), expected first delivery date is 2012, hence first commercial flight is sometime in 2013.

IMHO, both companies have their place in the market. I expect the 787 is improve over that of A380 because it have 5 extra years of development. And, if the 787 turn out to be on par or marginally better than A380 & 747/767/777 then Boeing has failed.

 

[l0cke]

Damn it I want my flying wing now!

 

[Demo24]

sweet wheelie!

 

[LTC8K6]

748 should be taxiing soon as well.

 

[mafia]

Finally! Maiden flight is scheduled for December 15th.

 

[nonameo]

oh, so basically this is an extra huge airplane? Is this how we solve america's obesity problem?

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

It's about time. Airbus has been kicking the crap out of Boeing.

 

[SSSnail]

This plane isn't a contender to the A380, it's supposed to be a "green" plane.

 

[Inferno0032]

oh, so basically this is an extra huge airplane? Is this how we solve america's obesity problem?

No, it is the opposite. The 787 is about efficiency, not capacity.

 

[iGas]

This plane isn't a contender to the A380, it's supposed to be a "green" plane.

It supposedly a greener/leaner/meaner 767/777.

 

[Spike]

About time, there are alot of nervous people here in the Seattle area.

 

[KeypoX]

In the video "Dozens watched" lol

 

[KillerCharlie]

I work there and am hoping to watch first flight on Tuesday. However, they won't give us the time off... we have to flex it off. How stupid is that?

 

[LTC8K6]

A380-8 wingspan is around 80 meters.
B748i wingspan is around 69 meters.
B787-8 wingspan is around 57 meters.

 

[0roo0roo]

oh, so basically this is an extra huge airplane? Is this how we solve america's obesity problem?

its a carbon fiber or whatever plane. its not about size but a new material and efficiency. because of the material the plane can handle more comfortable air cabin pressure/humidity levels so you won't feel like sh*t when you get to your destination. also the windows are much more flush, not looking into a tube window like with older planes and even the a380. its something innovative they are trying. theres nothing new about the airbus planes,they just made a bigger fatter one in the convetional way.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

that video was kinda fail, but i will be waiting for the maiden flight.

 

[eLiu]

Damn it I want my flying wing now!

It's coming, target around 2020-2030. The next generation of tube+body designs is likely to be the last (or nearly the last). "Blended wing body" designs are what's coming after that & it's where some major govt, academic, and commercial research is now being concentrated.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/12/boeing-787-dreamliner-interior/

 

[IronWing]

Damn it I want my flying wing now!

I don't. I think being a passenger in a flying wing would be pure hell. No prayer of getting a window seat. If I'm paying several hundred bucks to be way up in the sky I want to look out. If it were possible, I'd be like a dog in the car, with my head hanging out the window, barking at passing flocks.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Does every plane go through this where they have to go through like a year of jumping up for 5 seconds then landing again before they fly commercially, or is it just because of the sheer size that the 787 can't get off the ground and fly around for an hour.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Does every plane go through this where they have to go through like a year of jumping up for 5 seconds then landing again before they fly commercially, or is it just because of the sheer size that the 787 can't get off the ground and fly around for an hour.

All new aircraft want to be tested in incremental steps to ensure that everything is working as designed.

If there is a problem with the controls or landing gear, it is safer to be just off the ground at rotation speed than coming from 20K feet up and landing at speed.

And if you paid attention to the flight, it did fly for a hour or so.

Boeing will have about a half dozen flying almost around the clock now doing test and equipment evaluation.

Chief pilots from major customers will be getting rides then checkouts also.