July 6, 2007
WE'RE NOT IN BRAZIL ANYMORE...:
Boeing bets 787 has right stuff: Analysts say composite materials used to make the new plane will be revolutionary. A festive rollout is planned. (Peter Pae, July 6, 2007, LA Times)
"It will be revolutionary," said Richard Aboulafia, an analyst for aerospace research firm Teal Group Corp. "It will represent a major technological shift in the way a plane is made and in the way it operates."The 707 changed aviation by enabling airlines to fly to far-flung destinations more quickly than propeller-driven planes. It allowed carriers to begin offering economy seating, making air travel more affordable.
The Dreamliner is groundbreaking for a different reason: It's the first large passenger jet to have more than half of its structure made of composite materials (carbon fibers meshed together with epoxy) instead of aluminum sheets.
If the design works as planned, analysts say, composites will revolutionize aircraft as dramatically as the industry's shift from wood to metal 80 years ago.
Chicago-based Boeing has promised airlines that the use of composites and a newly developed engine will result in the 787 burning 20% less fuel than jetliners of a similar size.
The Third World can get by in niche markets on monkey-see-monkey-do, but only Americans innovate.
MORE:
Delivery of Boeing jets surges in 2nd quarter (The Associated Press, 7/06/07)
Boeing said Thursday it delivered 114 commercial airplanes in the second quarter, its highest total since 2001.Posted by Orrin Judd at July 6, 2007 10:18 AMThe deliveries ran the aerospace company's total through the first half of the year to 220, leaving it on target to reach its full-year estimate of 440 to 445.
Boeing's deliveries for the quarter included 86 737s, 21 777s, four 747s and three 767s.
The last time it had a higher total was the fourth quarter of 2001 when it delivered 144 commercial jets.
Seattle TV is going to stream the video live (Sunday 7/8/07 3PM PDT) on their website for those in places like Hanover who want to follow along.
Posted by: TimF at July 7, 2007 1:47 PMAll the aviation websites are going to be gaga tomorrow. I suspect the Airbus devotees will try to hold back the tide, but then just curse the 'stupid Americans' and click off. But the real enthusiasts will cheer no matter what, just like when the A380 first flew.
I bought Boeing in 2002 around $50 and then watched it drop to about $33. I sold at around $62. I kicked myself almost immediately and then bought some again a few weeks ago (at $94).
The carbon-fiber construction really isn't an innovation (Lockheed used it 45 years ago on the Blackbird, and the shuttle has used it, too), but it is a step forward for large-scale use in a commercial aircraft. The interior design is what will really grab the public's attention, though - no one is going to want to go back to any other jet after flying on this one.
Posted by: ratbert at July 7, 2007 8:38 PM