Calling all plane-spotters — Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, hailed as the biggest advance in aircraft design since Concorde, lands in Britain today, and just in time for the Farnborough airshow.
The revolutionary aircraft is, in effect, the world’s first plastic airliner — the fuselage is built from lightweight, high-durability carbon-fibre composites, and the wings are made with a combination of composites and titanium graphite laminate. The result is a plane that is considerably lighter, and therefore more fuel-efficient, than any other commercial aircraft and has recieved many compliments about its recognition of the impact of climate change due to increased passenger demand for both leisure and business air travel.
More than 50 airlines have placed orders and the first flights are likely to take off before the end of this year, operated by the Japanese airline ANA. The British charter carrier Thomson Airways has ordered 11 planes, with the inaugural flight scheduled for January 2012. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in the UAE’s capital, Abu Dhabi. has ordered 35 of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner
Currently Etihad offers flights to 64 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa, Australia and Asia.
Unlike the Airbus A380 superjumbo, which was designed to move huge numbers of passengers between hub airports, the Dreamliner — which is the same size as a Boeing 767 — is designed to take passengers directly to their destination. Its fuel efficiency, combined with long-haul capability, means that tour operators such as Thomson can now open exotic destinations such as Bali, Borneo and the Maldives to the masses and national airlines will be able to offer scheduled long haul flights to Mumbai, India from Europe and return flights to London from Australia and Asia
While the cabin interior is unlikely to be noticeably roomier than current configurations, it should be more comfortable. Unlike aluminium aircraft, which maintain a cabin pressure equivalent to 8,000ft altitude, the 787’s more resilient composite body can be pressurised to 6,000ft, possibly reducing the effects of jet lag. Cabin lighting, which will mimic daylight intensities, will mitigate those effects further, and the Dreamliner’s noncorrosive body construction allows for higher humidity levels, leaving passengers less dehydrated.
The windows, at 18in tall, are the largest on any commercial aircraft, and come with adjustable electrochromic dimmers. In-flight entertainment will be delivered via a wireless network that will also allow passengers internet and email access.
Will the Dreamliner prove as popular with passengers as the A380? Many airlines are reporting that passengers are choosing to fly only on A380s — postponing trips unless seats are available — because of the reduced cabin noise and increased personal space.
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