Boeing 787 ~ Dreamliner

Remember when flying was fun? That was the question Boeing Airlines asked people in its unprecedented survery intended to influence the design of its next jet the 787. Now that the design has been frozen Boeing is about to roll out an airplane that promises to reprise the golden age of travel
Prior to the 787, engineers had always dominated airplane design at Boeing. Sure, they listened to what airlines wanted, but there was seldom any direct feedback from the flying public For this plane, however, beoing took into account passanger complaints: carmped seating, restricted movement, bone dry air, and did something about it.

Even though the 787 is not a jumbo—it will carry about two hundred fifty passengers. The door opens onto a vaulted lobby rather than a cramped vestibule. And there is a surprising amount of light, thanks to the single most revolutionary feature of the 787: its huge windows. Wider and notably taller—extending from the armrest to above the top of the seat—they instantly erase that sense of walking into a claustrophobic tube. Moreover, they invite us to revisit the idea of flying as an ever-changing spectacle of earth and sky—like having an IMAX of one's own.
These enlarged openings are made possible by a radical new technology: Nearly half of the airplane will be built using graphite composites instead of aluminum. The superior strength of these composites means that the windows—which are essentially holes punched into the structure, something engineers don't like—can be thirty percent larger than those on the 767 without weakening the integrity of the fuselage. (The use of composites also makes the 787 about ten thousand pounds lighter than it would be if only aluminum were used, which in turn means that it will gulp up to twenty percent less fuel.)

Advances in power generation will provide the 787 with four times more electricity than has been possible until now, and this will have a theatrical effect in the cabin, where there will be a huge domed ceiling lights nestled within pairs of soaring arches. Artificial lighting throughout the cabin will be more adaptable that anything we have so far experienced. Flight attendants will be able to vary its intensity greatly, and to switch it from "day" to "night" to accommodate, even manipulate, our body clocks. And passengers will have greater choice at the seat: not just an on-off reading light but one that dims too. Electronic window shades will allow attendants to control the overall level of natural light while still leaving each passenger with the ability to see out clearly to the sky or terrain below, and of course to blacken their individual windows. The future also promises another significant step up in cabin comfort: greater humidity. The cabins of both the 787 and the A380 will have air pressurized at the equivalent of six thousand feet above sea level, rather than the eight thousand feet that is the present standard. This means the air will be detectably moister; what's more, the cabin air will be filtered to reduce dehydrating impurities, such as those from alcohol and perfume.

Features
Twin aisle seating. 18.5" standard seat width in coach in a 2+4+2 arrangement, 17.3" in a 3+3+3 arrangement, 2" arm rests, 4" (at the center section of 2+4+2), standard aisle width of 21.5".
Cabin interior width at 50" from the floor is 222" with the widest section being 226" (double bubble construction. Two class configuration of 233 seats in two class domestic with 42" first class pitch and 34" coach class. 296 pax in a 3+3+3 coach arrangement with 32" pitch. Up to 226 in a three class with 60" Pitch First (2+2+2 or 2+1+2), 38" Pitch Business (2+3+2 or 2+2+2) and 32" Coach (3+3+3/2+4+2).
Cruise speed: 0.85 Mach (903 km/h or 561 mph at altitude)
Range of 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km), enough to cover the Los Angeles to London or New York to Tokyo routes.
Construction materials (by weight): 61 % composite, 20 % aluminum, 11 % titanium, 8 % steel. Composite materials are significantly lighter and stronger than traditional aircraft materials, making the 787 a very light aircraft for its capabilities. By volume, the 787 will be 80 % composite.
The 787 production line will be able to finish an aircraft in as little as three days, compared to 11 days for the 737.
Larger windows than any other civil air transport, with a higher eye level, so passengers can see the horizon, with liquid crystal display (LCD)-based "auto-dimming" to reduce cabin glare and maintain transparency.
Light-emitting diode (LED) cabin lighting will be used instead of fluorescent tubes, as well as the aircraft to be entirely 'bulbless'.
A version of Ethernet (Avionics Full Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX)/ ARINC 664) will be used to transmit data between the flight deck and aircraft systems.
Bleedless turbofans, allowing elimination of superheated air conduits normally used for de-icing, aircraft power, and other functions. These systems are to be replaced with an all-electrical system.
Cabin air provided by electrically driven compressors (no engine bleed air).
Higher humidity in the passenger cabin because of the use of composites (which don't corrode).
The internal pressure will be increased, to the equivalent of 6000 feet (1800 m) altitude versus 8000 (2400 m) on conventional aircraft. This will significantly improve passenger comfort.

Email | Bookmark | Link