After three years of costly setbacks and scary failed test flights, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner finally made its debut on Sunday when it was delivered to its first Japanese customer.
Boeing has orders for 821 of these Dreamliners, which fly 52 percent farther than the all-metal 767 aircraft they’re replacing, while using 20 percent less fuel thanks to their carbon fiber design. Other upgrades include better cabin air, electronically dimmable windows, a more efficient turbofan engine with fewer fan blades and Android-based entertainment systems.
Even though the ultra-light composite technology has become popular among other airlines, including Airbus, three years worth of expensive delays won’t be easy on Boeing. They’ll need to sell a lot of the Dreamliners in order to recoup their losses.
