Boeing 787: The Worlds Most Environmentally Friendly Airliner
Today marked the potential revolution of the commercial airline industry. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner (released on 7/8/07) was unveiled today in Everett, Washington with promises of higher fuel-efficiency and lower noise levels. Boeing released it's first new airliner since 1994 in one of the largest TV/Internet broadcasts ever, reaching an estimated 100 million viewers, going live via satellite in nine languages to more than 45 countries and on www.boeing.com and www.newairplane.com. And to top it off, approx. 15,000 people were on hand, with 30,000 more participating via two-way satellite feeds.
Although the liner does not look a whole lot different on the outside, the changes are dramatic under the surface. One major change is the building materials - instead of using regular aluminum, the 787 is built with 50% carbon fiber and 15% titanium, eliminating a great amount of weight, increasing fuel efficiency. The benefits of reduced fuel costs will in turn benefit passengers as travel costs will be reduced, increasing the amount of people that use air travel. To further improve the passenger experience, fatigue- and rust-free composite materials inside allow the cabin to be kept more humid that current airliners, leaving passengers feeling much less dried out and jet-lagged after lengthy flights.
The response to the 787 Dreamliner has already been tremendous. 677 of the brand new jets have been ordered by 47 different companies, supporting production to 2015 already. Qantas, the Australian flag-carrier is set obtain the worlds largest fleet of 787's, placing an order for 65 of the planes with a price tag of US$146M to US$200M each.
The 787 Dreamliner's maiden voyage is set for later this year, with the first plane going into commission in 2008 with All Nippon Airways, who were the first to place an order four years ago.
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