Air/Land/Water
All good things to those who wait: Some 3+ years behind schedule, on September 25, 2011, All Nippon Airways took delivery of the first Boeing Dreamliner 787, ushering into service a new breed of long-range, mid-size aircraft that carries the promise of a more efficient future for the ever-struggling airline industry.
Using 50% composite materials with titanium/graphite wings and a one-piece barrel of graphite combined with a toughened epoxy resin, the 787 eliminates all longitudinal skin splices, some 1,500 aluminum sheets and between 40,000 to 50,000 fasteners – meaning the fuselage itself has fewer than 10,000 drilled holes vs. 1,000,000 on the 777.
Dubbed the first fully e-enabled plane, data is constantly generated, captured and sent, reporting any maintenance issues in real time. The cockpit features wide-format, flight-deck displays plus standard dual head-up displays that give flight crews a de-clutter mode for when optimum concentration and minimal distractions are necessary.
Turbulence-haters will be happy for Smoother Ride Technology that deflects the wings' surfaces up and down, damping the effects of rough air, while those stuck at the back of the bus, plus those residing in the way of flight paths, will appreciate the quieter engines. General Electric's GEnx and Rolls-Royce's Trent are also more fuel efficient, more easily interchangeable and produce reduced emissions.
A More Electric Architecture replaces the conventional pneumatic one for tasks like A/C, cabin pressurization and de-icing using 35% less extracted power and doing away with 60 miles of copper wiring. Inside the cabin, an increased internal pressure of 6,000 feet (from 8,000), 15% humidity (as opposed to the usual 4%), HEPA filtration, LED lighting and large, photochromatic windows will mean a more comfy flying experience no matter what your class of travel.