Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner landed at Farnborough in the UK Sunday for its first appearance at an international air show. “This is the first time we've had a new airplane at an air show since the early 1990s," said Jim Albaugh, head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The 787 Dreamliner is considered a revolutionary new aircraft, as it is largely built from light-weight composite material. It is now two years behind schedule, however, after delays caused by a series of hitches, and rival Airbus has been catching up with its new model, the A 350.
The Dreamliner first flew in December 2009, and is currently conducting daily flight tests in the US with a target to deliver the first planes to its launch customer All Nippon Airways before the end of this year, although Boeing has cautioned that the delivery date may slip into the early months of 2011.Scott Fancher, general manager of the 787 Dreamliner Program, said this was due to the need to change instruments on the test planes, and additional inspection work.
Delays are always a nuisance, and the consequent publicity is not good for Boeing’s reputation, or its balance sheet. Airlines making plans to upgrade their fleet will undoubtedly seek compensation from Boeing, but Albaugh was nevertheless upbeat on the long term. "This is an airplane that's going to be in the market for 50 years," he said.
The appearance of the Dreamliner at an international air show rekindles hopes of an upturn in the fortunes of the civilian aviation industry. Airlines have been holding back from ordering new planes in the last couple of years, but this year, Albaugh believes, may see the tide turning. "We're going to hear a lot of orders being announced this week, both from Airbus and from Boeing," he said.
