Boeing 787

The Boeing 787

The Boeing 787 (also called the Dreamliner) is an aircraft made by Boeing. Its first flight took place on 15 December 2009. According to current plans, 787 should start being used by airlines in the year 2010. These dates have been changed lots of times and now some airlines will get their aircraft nearly 30 months late .

Types of aircraft

Boeing are making 3 variants of the Dreamliner: the 787-3, 787-8 and the 787-9.

The -3 will be the smallest and have the shortest range at about 5000 km, will fly about 290 people and will be the last to be made. It will replace the Boeing 747-400D (the D stands for domestic, which means flights that take-off and land in the same country) that was used by two Japanese airlines.

The -9 will be largest and have the biggest range at about 15250 km. It will be able to fly about 270 people and will be made in 2012. It will compete against Airbus and their A330-300 aircraft and their A330-200. It will replace the Boeing 767-400ER.

The -8 model will be in the middle, flying 210 people about 14750 km and will be the first type to be made in 2009. The -8 will replace the Boeing 767-200ER and Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.