Dreamliner takes to the skies

BoeingÔÇÖs long-awaited 787 Dreamliner took to the skies yesterday on its maiden flight.  The aircraft took off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, just before 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning and flew for approximately three hours before landing at SeattleÔÇÖs Boeing airfield.  The 250-seat Dreamliner is the first commercial aircraft to be made predominantly from compositesÔÇönamely, carbon fiber-reinforced plasticÔÇörather than the conventional mix of aluminum and steel.  It promises to cut the cost of flying long-haul routes by up to 20 percent, thanks to reduced weight, advanced design and more efficient engines from General Electric and Rolls-Royce.  The plane will also have a wider and taller fuselage and 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity. Passengers will benefit from larger windows, more overhead baggage space, improved lighting and cleaner interior air. "Today is truly a proud and historic day for the global team who has worked tirelessly to design and build the 787 DreamlinerÔÇöthe first all-new jet airplane of the 21st century," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program.  "We look forward to the upcoming flight test program and soon bringing groundbreaking levels of efficiency, technology and passenger comfort to airlines and the flying public."  The Dreamliner wonÔÇÖt enter commercial service until late 2010 at the earliest, following what will be the most rigorous flight testing and certification program in commercial aviation history, with six planes scheduled to be flying virtually around the clock and around the globe. The plane's first delivery will be to Japan's All Nippon Airways next year. Despite some cancellations from airlines, there are still 840 orders for 787s from 55 customers around the world, making the aircraft the fastest-selling new commercial jetliner in history.  The 840 orders are valued at around $140 billion. However, development of the much anticipated plane has been dogged by a series of setbacks. YesterdayÔÇÖs flight is more than two years behind schedule and the project is now billions of dollars over budget.  Toulouse, France-based Airbus is also making a composite rival plane, the A350; but this will not be ready until 2013.  *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *