Boeing says that its long awaited Dreamliner 787 aircraft will finally take to the skies “by the end of 2009”, with the first delivery expected in the fourth quarter of 2010.
The Dreamliner had been due to take its first flight earlier this year, but this was delayed following the need to reinforce an area wihin the side-of-body section of the aircraft (see online news June 23).
Boeing says that the 787 team has completed initial testing on the side-of-body reinforcements, and is finalizing design details of the new fittings, with installation expected to begin within the next few weeks.
ANA is the launch customer for the Dreamliner, and the first aircraft sporting the airline’s 787 livery was unveiled in June this year (see online news June 16). Boeing says that it “projects achieving a production rate of ten airplanes per month in 2013”.
For more information visit boeing.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
