B787

First South Carolina built Boeing 787 rolls on to Final Assembly

The first South Carolina-built Boeing 787 put ‘weight on wheels’ for the first time on, earlier this week on the 18th December. Read more

First of the United Continental Boeing 787 aircraft enters assembly phase

United Continental have announced that the first of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft has entered the assembly phase at Boeing’s facility in Everett, Washington. In early 2012, United will be the first North American carrier to take delivery of the aircraft, marking the first of 50 787 Dreamliner aircraft for the airline. Read more

Boeing 787 Dreamliner completes flight testing for Type Certification

Boeing has completed all flight tests required for type certification of the 787-8 Dreamliner with Rolls-Royce engines this weekend. The all-new jetliner is bringing unprecedented levels of fuel economy, maintenance cost improvements, and environmental sensitivity to the marketplace through the use of new technologies including composites, more-electric systems, advanced aerodynamics and the latest advancements in propulsion. Read more

Countdown as ANA show first Boeing 787 Dreamliner that will enter service

The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner that will enter into service with launch customer ANA rolled out of the paint hangar today. The aircraft bears a special livery signifying the core element's of ANA's service brand – innovation, uniqueness and the inspiration of Japan.

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Boeing 787 Dreamliner arrives in Arizona

ZA004, is undergoing a short series of tests that require a combination of hot weather and low-altitude conditions

The 787 flight test fleet, currently comprised of four airplanes, has logged more than 820 hours of flying in the last six months. Two more airplanes are expected to join the flight test fleet soon.

Picture: Boeing Model 40 Meets the 787 Dreamliner over Puget Sound

As if finding a ghost among the cumulus, The Boeing Company’s latest addition to its lineage of pioneering commercial airplanes, the 787 Dreamliner, caught up to its ancestor, a Boeing Model 40, in the skies over Mount Rainier south of Seattle.

The fully restored 1928 vintage Boeing Model 40, owned and flown by Addison Pemberton of Spokane, Wash., is the only flyable Model 40 in the world and the oldest flying Boeing aircraft of any kind. The Model 40 not only is notable as Boeing’s first production commercial airplane, but its innovation and efficiency were the deciding factor in Boeing Air Transport (the airline subsidiary of the Boeing Airplane Company) winning the lucrative Oakland-to-Chicago air mail route in 1927. That event set William Boeing on a course that, within just two years, would take him from managing his airplane company in Seattle to presiding over a vast nationwide aviation empire called United Aircraft and Transport Corporation (UATC).

The 787 and Model 40, both the technological leaders of their time, represent 80 years of Commercial Airplanes leadership and clearly illustrate the dramatic progress in airplane design.
During those 80 years, the people of Boeing have introduced innovative technologies that have revolutionized flight and defined the design of all commercial airplanes.

Taking a very short break from the 787 program’s intensive flight test program, Boeing Chief Test Pilot Mike Carriker expertly maneuvered the first 787, ZA001, into formation with the Model 40 at 12,000 feet to allow photographer Ryan Pemberton, flying in an A36 Bonanza, to line up for the striking photo.

“It really took a lot of work and planning,” Carriker said. “When I came alongside the Model 40 against those big puffy clouds it was unbelievable: Here is this 1928 biplane flying with a 2010 airplane side by side. How amazing the history of The Boeing Company is – it was really exciting.”

Qatar Airways appoints Thales to supply In-Flight Entertainment and Communications solutions

Qatar Airways has selected Thales to provide in-flight entertainment and communication systems for the airline’s Boeing 787 aircraft.

The appointment will see Thales supplying the airline its TopSeries system, which features a range of onboard product solutions, including passenger touch screen displays, interface options for personal electronic devices and 3D audio technology.

Qatar Airways will also be the launch customer of Thales’ new passenger handset controller with multi-tasking capabilities. The control unit is an intelligent device that enables passengers to play games and navigate through the in-flight entertainment system using touch screen technology.

Broadband connectivity will be integrated into the IFE system, allowing the potential for every passenger to access current news, sports, social networks and other mobile applications.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that the in-flight offering on the airline’s B787 fleet will be a step beyond what is currently available in the sky.

“Qatar Airways is proud to be at the forefront of the aviation industry. Our 787 aircraft will be equipped with the industry’s leading in-flight entertainment and communications technology, and we are looking forward to showcasing to our passengers just why we continue receive awards and accolades for our in-flight product.”

“The airline is continuing to expand at a rapid pace and with the opening of New Doha International Airport in addition to the delivery of our first B787s scheduled for 2011, the future is looking very bright indeed,” Al Baker said.

The Doha-based carrier has outstanding orders of 30 firm and 30 optional Boeing 787-8 aircraft due for delivery from 2011.

Thales’ TopSeries for the B787 is a lightweight design and a leading choice for configuring the B787 aircraft. With the addition of its integrated connectivity features, Qatar Airways takes a leading position in the industry.

Alan Pellegrini, Vice President and General Manager of Thales’ Inflight Entertainment Systems business said: “We are very pleased to be working with Qatar Airways on the installation of IFE and Connectivity on their new B787 aircraft. Our team is committed to their success and desire to bring innovation to their passengers.”

Qatar Airways had previously appointed Thales to provide in-flight entertainment and communications systems for 24 brand-new single-aisle A320 family aircraft as well as six retrofits for A320s already in the airline’s fleet. The systems include touch-screen technology, with seat-back screens in Economy as well as communication tools such as mobile phone connectivity. The airline offers SMS and data services on these aircraft.

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 83 aircraft to 89 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and North America. Long-term, the fleet size is set to rise to 120 aircraft by 2013 and destinations served increase to 120 over the next three years. The airline has orders for more than 200 aircraft pending delivery worth over US$40 billion.

Boeing selects Monarch Aircraft Engineering as a GoldCare Partner

Boeing has announced London-based Monarch Aircraft Engineering Ltd. as a maintenance, repair and overhaul partner for the aerospace company’s GoldCare service offering for the 787 Dreamliner.

Under the agreement, Monarch will provide scheduled maintenance operations in support of the 787 Dreamliner fleet.

“Monarch Aircraft Engineering has a long history of successful, high-quality maintenance and is a great fit to provide the maintenance component for our Dreamliner 787 GoldCare,” said Bob Avery, vice president, Fleet Management for Commercial Aviation Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Monarch’s participation represents a broad commitment to quality as GoldCare progresses in the marketplace.”

The agreement is for regularly scheduled maintenance for 787s, such as A, B, C and D checks, with the exception of line maintenance.

“I am delighted that Monarch Aircraft Engineering Ltd. will be partnering with Boeing on the GoldCare product,” said Richard Mintern, managing director, Monarch Aircraft Engineering. “This new and exciting service offering will play a significant role in the operation and ongoing support of the 787 Dreamliner; and to be such an integral element of GoldCare is testimony to the innovative, service oriented, high-quality and flexible approach we take with our customers.”

Monarch Aircraft Engineering has more than 43 years experience in aircraft maintenance, providing maintenance and technical support to airlines of all sizes. Monarch has maintenance facilities at Manchester International Airport and London-Luton Airport and has approvals from Europe and U.S. authorities.

In 2006, Monarch Airlines, sister company of Monarch Aircraft Engineering, placed an order for six Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Boeing leads a global GoldCare team performing comprehensive material management, engineering and maintenance services at a predictable cost based on flight hours, allowing customers to focus on their passengers.

The GoldCare team also includes GE Aviation, Hamilton Sundstrand, Honeywell, Moog Inc., Panasonic and Rockwell Collins.

TUI Travel PLC was announced as the first GoldCare customer earlier this month.