Wings of change

BOEING this week unveiled the 787 Dreamliner, a new jet which uses 20 per cent less fuel than similar jets of its size and has already become the fastest-selling passenger plane in history.

The plane, launched as the aviation industry comes under pressure over carbon dioxide emissions, does not compete in size with the rival Airbus A380 superjumbo, but on environmental credentials.
The Dreamliner’s fuel efficiency is due to it being made from light carbon fibre-reinforced plastic instead of heavier aluminium.
It was unveiled on Sunday night at a ceremony attended by 15,000 guests at the company’s vast factory in Everett, near Seattle.
Boeing says it is arguably the most important product in its 90-year history.
The mid-sized plane, capable of carrying 330 passengers, has the biggest windows in the air, lowered cabin altitude – from 2,500m to 1,800m – to reduce problems such as headaches, and increased humidity to combat itchy eyes and parched throats.
The launch came as Virgin confirmed it has opened talks with Boeing and Airbus to replace its 747 jets.
The choice is between the A380 superjumbo, its smaller Airbus cousin the A350 and the new 747. Airlines such as Virgin are expanding at a rapid rate amid a boom in air travel.
The 787 has sensors that trigger control services to react immediately in turbulence for a smoother ride. And it waves goodbye to blinds, the feature responsible for so much inflight tension, in favour of electronically dimmable windows which allow passengers to see out even when they are “closed”.
Windows measuring 47cm by 28cm are 65 per cent larger than the competition’s and give passengers a view to the horizon from any seat on the plane. Cabin lighting is designed to be gently eased from emulating daylight to night-time and vice versa.
So far Boeing has sold 677 of the aircraft to 47 customers for more than $100 billion.
Virgin Atlantic has already bought 15 and is confident of exercising options on another eight by the end of this year. It has the right to buy a further 20 after that, as part of a deal worth up to $8 billion.
Virgin, which will get its first four 787s in 2011, will take advantage of their fuel efficiency to use them for new routes including non-stop flights from London to Hawaii and Perth.
Its designers are looking at installing sound-proof creches at the back of the planes, under the care of a “flight nanny”.
“The Dreamliner is a step change in the industry,” said Virgin’s director of communications, Paul Charles.
“It delivers for us with great fuel efficiency, cutting consumption by around 27 per cent per passenger.”
Friends of the Earth aviations campaigner Richard Dyer said: “This is a welcome step because it’s a significant improvement on what’s gone before, but we don’t see this kind of improvement that often and the growth in passengers completely overwhelms it.”
The 787 is set to make its debut in the air towards the end of the summer and is due for delivery to its first customer in May.

By Rachel Williams in Seattle