Boeing Pushes Back Initial Delivery of 787 by 6 Months
10 October 2007
The Boeing Company will delay its planned initial deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner (earlier post) by six months, due to continued challenges completing assembly of the first airplanes.
Deliveries of the Dreamliner are now slated to begin in late November or December 2008, versus an original target of May 2008. First flight is now anticipated around the end of first quarter 2008.
Early last month, Boeing announced a delay in the planned first flight of the 787 citing ongoing challenges with out-of-sequence production work, including parts shortages, and remaining software and systems integration activities.
The company also acknowledged increasing risk to the delivery schedule, indicating that the margin to accommodate unexpected issues had been eliminated. The newly revised schedule for first flight and first delivery addresses the production challenges and restores margin for the program to deal with issues that may be uncovered in final ground or flight testing. Boeing also said today that flight control software and systems integration activities are not pacing items in the revised schedule for first flight.
Ouch! That hurts the bottom line! Boeing currently builds the 737, 747, 767, and 777. These subsonic aircraft pretty much cover all necessary passenger loading from 100 to about 500 people. I don't understand why the development of a new plane, 787, unless they want to upgrade their technologies and efficiencies. They usually do a good job of that by evolving newer dash number aircraft. The passenger loading for the '87 fits very close to the 767 and 777. Perhaps they intend to discontinue the '67.
Posted by: Lad | 10 October 2007 at 01:34 PM
The 787 uses a lot of carbon fiber composites in its construction. It seems that the aircraft is proving more complex to construct than originally thought. It's supposed to be about 20% more fuel efficient than other aircraft of a similar size, and under this current oil price environment, it's outselling the Airbus A380.
Posted by: Cervus | 10 October 2007 at 05:06 PM
"Continued challenges" sounds suspiciously like the fastener shortage reported last month is still going on.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20864708/
My kingdom for a bolt...
Posted by: rob | 10 October 2007 at 05:56 PM
The 767 is an old design that was struggling to sell even before the 787 was launched. The new plane promises to be more efficient and have a much longer point-to-point range as well. It may even be more comfortable (larger windows and higher cabin humidity).
Posted by: NBK-Boston | 11 October 2007 at 03:33 AM
Interesting (although unsurprising) that both the 787 and A380 have been delayed. I can't remember what happened with the B777 and A340 - where they delivered on time?
Posted by: Scatter | 11 October 2007 at 04:09 AM
Last assy pics I saw, it didn't even fit together in the middle....
Posted by: Ruaraidh | 11 October 2007 at 07:31 AM
The reason for this delay is because the vendors around the world shipped their very large structural assemblies to Everette, WA in various stages of completeness. Some structural assemblies were lacking either correct fastners, wiring, mechanical or hydraulic components specified by Boeing.
Also the 787 is employing a completely knew type of aircraft structure, production and assembly technology, so there is NO way to compare this to the way a 777 is built in Everett, WA.
The only possible problems I can see in the 787 design is the carbon fiber structure damage during lightning strikes and will the carbon fiber structure it self burn and emit deadly fumes in crashes?
Posted by: gary | 11 October 2007 at 12:15 PM
no, you tech nerds are all off...
the 787 is all assembled in one piece on the plant floor at Everett, go look...
It is 50% composites, a radical departure,
and it is made in about 30 countries, there lies
the difficulty...
Posted by: linda | 11 October 2007 at 01:03 PM
The 787 was designed as a 767 replacement.
But it is increasingly being viewed as a Bigger 737 as well. Many airlines are finding that the breakdown of the governments Air Control network (Why am I not surprised? Socialism seldom works) is making the allocation of take off desireable time slots and gates at high use airports, even more of a premium.
Much of the increased demand that is making the 787 a winner, is the secondary, somewhat unanticipated market place.
Posted by: Stan Peterson | 11 October 2007 at 02:19 PM
Socialism seldom works
As the Board Blowhard talks about a lead player of the military-industrial complex. The laughs never cease.
Posted by: jack | 11 October 2007 at 02:46 PM
Stan: I suspect what is making "...the allocation of take off desirable time slots and gates at high use airports even more of a premium" is the large increase in air traffic.
Posted by: domenick | 11 October 2007 at 05:57 PM