Boeing debut 787 Dreamliner

After a six year development involving 70 companies Boeing has premiered its 787 Dreamliner with of one of the largest corporate TV and Internet broadcasts in history. An estimated 15,000 people attended the hour long ceremony at the company’s final assembly facility in Everett, Washington, which coincided with a webcast and live broadcast in nine different languages to more than 45 countries. The newest addition to the Boeing family will have quieter takeoffs and landings, produce fewer carbon emissions and use 20 percent less fuel per passenger than similar aircraft.

The first flight of the airplane is expected in late August or September and a total of six airplanes will be included in the flight test program, which will conclude in May 2008 with the certification of the airplane followed shortly by the first delivery of a 787 to All Nippon Airways (ANA).

Such is the scale of the 787 Dreamliner project that it required a complete redesign of an existing plane in order to freight the parts in from suppliers and enable its advanced construction technique to be implemented.

The event also saw over 30,000 people participate via two-way satellite from Japan, Italy and locations in the United States. Overall, according to Boeing, the 787 Premiere reached a potential audience of 100 million.

"Our journey began some six years ago when we knew we were on the cusp of delivering valuable technologies that would make an economic difference to our airline customers. In our business, that happens every 15 or so years, so we have to get it right," said Mike Bair, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president/general manager of the 787 program. "I am so proud of the men and women of Boeing and of our partner employees in the 70 companies that have brought this airplane to the passengers of the world."

At this stage 47 customers worldwide have ordered 677 airplanes worth more than $110 billion at current list prices, making the Dreamliner the biggest commercial airplane launch in history.