boeing 787
A long-range twin-engine wide-body airliner that seats 210-330 passengers. Entering service in 2011 with All Nippon Airways as its launch customer, the Dreamliner has a lightweight fuselage made from composite materials and is powered by 2 high-bypass (better fuel efficiency) turbofan engines with distinctive chevron-shaped exhausts for noise reduction. It also features only four cockpit windows rather than six.
Inside, the flight deck features a glass cockpit with digital displays, and the passenger cabin has improved pressurization (equivalent to that at about 1800 meters above sea level rather than 2500 meters) as well as enlarged windows with electronic dimming rather than manual pull-down shades.
The Dreamliner has had a troubled history (although no hull losses, unlike its main competitor), with it's maiden flight being delayed by two years, its first delivery being delayed by three years, and a project cost overrun of about $10 Billion USD. In 2013, the aircraft was grounded by the FAA after two incidents of fires breaking out onboard that were caused by faulty lithium-ion batteries which Boeing had outsourced.
See also
- List of airplanes
- Airbus A350, the 787's main competitor
