| The Dreamliner | | | | credit-card-crazy partners, you better start |
| | | | coming up with new excuses now. |
| The aviation world is set to hit turbulence | | | | |
| in May 2008 according to Antony Gardner ( | | | | With over 50% of the planes structure being |
| Costing a modest 143 million dollars and | | | | made up of light weight composite materials |
| boasting a flight deck that Han Solo would | | | | and neon lights etching out roof mounted sky |
| love to get his hands on, the Boeing 787 will | | | | lights, the Dreamliner visually lives up to |
| attempt to sore to a dominating altitude in | | | | its name. The elegant angled wings and |
| the medium size long haul airliner market. | | | | relatively small Rolls-Royce gives the 787 an |
| | | | air of agility and grace not generally |
| Set to replace the Boeing 767, the Boeing 787 | | | | attributed to an airliner. |
| will feature an increased cruising speed of | | | | |
| 561mph and in the 787-9 configuration will | | | | Already sales for the Boeing 787 have reached |
| boast an extra 5000km range over its | | | | an all time high. Some 44 customers have |
| predecessor. Boeing also claims that the mid | | | | placed 544 orders for the plane which only |
| sized jet will use 20 percent less fuel then | | | | saw its first assembly take place earlier |
| today's thirsty airliners making it one of | | | | this month and which is still yet to fly. |
| the most eco friendly planes ever designed. | | | | This unprecedented level of pre-orders has |
| The reduced fuel usage is likely to spell | | | | made the Dreamliner Boeings greatest launch |
| good things for those wishing to practice | | | | success. Virgin Atlantic recently placed the |
| green policies and also bring some form of | | | | largest European order for the planes, |
| economic reward to the airlines if not the | | | | ordering 15 of the 787-9 airliners. Sir |
| customer. | | | | Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Atlantic |
| | | | and king of all things entrepreneurial |
| Whilst not matching the carrying capacity of | | | | commented that, "The 787 Dreamliner |
| larger class airplanes appearing later this | | | | symbolises the environmentally-kinder |
| year (Airbus A380 anybody?), the | | | | aircraft of the future - cleaner, quieter, |
| affectionately named "Dreamliner" can carry | | | | lighter and truly the best experience in the |
| between 210 and 330 passengers depending upon | | | | air," |
| the purchased configuration. Capable of | | | | |
| taking to the sky carrying a maximum of some | | | | Do we agree?...well, nobody is trying harder |
| 540,000lbs; passengers and transporters alike | | | | than Sir Richard Branson and let's face it |
| will benefit from somewhere between 4400ft3 | | | | air travel is here to stay - so it's a |
| and 5400ft3 of cargo space. For those bill | | | | resounding yes from us. |
| payers likely to travel with | | | | |