Boeing is hoping the second Dreamliner experiences a smoother takeoff than the first. The aerospace giant has just announced the completion of the first of its 787-9s, a variant of the Dreamliner that is 20 feet longer than the original (the 787-8) and can fly 300 nautical miles farther thanks to a greater fuel capacity. Boeing's promotional video claims the plane is the first commercial use of hybrid laminar flow control—a way to change the airflow around the aircraft's tail to reduce drag.
Boeing's website boasts a couple dozen airlines that are poised to fly this newer, bigger 787, but there's still plenty of work to do before the plane is ready for commercial aviation—Boeing still has to put the newly completed aircraft through the complete battery of flight tests. According to CNET, Air Zealand will be the first airline to get a 787-9, but it won't happen until sometime next year.
Like the 787-8 now in service, the new 787-9 is made of composite materials as a way to save weight. However, Boeing hopes the bigger jet dodges the electrical and battery problems that plagued the first Dreamliners earlier this year, grounding the planes for months and requiring a fix to the battery system. The new plane's debut is at least a shot of positive energy in what has been a trying year for the Dreamliner team.
Via:Popular Mechanics
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