Thursday May 24, 2012

Boeing delivers first 787 to ANA after years of delays

Business ( 45 )

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The Boeing 787 Dreamliner AP

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45 Comments

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  • -4

    WilliB

    Plastic plane. I don´t like it.

  • 2

    rainman1

    @WilliB: Then don't fly it.

  • 2

    hoserfella

    I can't wait to fly in one. Looks great, too.

  • -6

    NetNinja

    Although I'm a big fan of aviation something inside me said "Don't rush to be the first"
    That's a lot of light material. With Japan's current luck I'm very hesitant to trust them at the yoke. The captain may go to the bathroom leaving a young rookie in the flight deck. "What's this button do?"
    Don't want to be on that flight.

  • 3

    Himajin

    And without corrosion-prone aluminum skin, the humidity can be kept higher. Those two changes should reduce dry noses and throats.

    Great! No matter how much water I drink, my nose is always painfully dry on a plane.

  • 2

    YuriOtani

    NetNinja, well one never knows about these things. Strange things happen with new cars as well. Then again the latest generation of military aircraft are made like this. Also it got a lot more testing than the first jets the comets. Those were the ones that were crashing due to work hardening of the skin and structure. Not much chance for me to fly them in the future, my flights are mostly between the states and Japan. So it will be the UAL 777 for me or 747. You do understand that ANA is way overrated. My last trip was in "premium Economy", like sure asked for a scotch and was told they had none. Got a gin and tonic, some "premium" service :p

  • 3

    Okinawamike

    Yuri:

    You should have order your scotch at the bar with the rest of the aircrew before the flight;)

  • -1

    electric2004

    Seems like direct competition to the Airbus A380, which also is used between Narita and Frankfurt, however flown by ANA's partner Lufthansa.

  • 4

    paulinusa

    electric: Not sure those two planes compete directly, The A380 is more of a hub and spoke airplane ( transport 500-800 people to an airport hub) while the 787 is more of a point to point airplane. I think Airbus has a new A350 on the drawing board to go up against the 787.

  • 0

    electric2004

    Paul: I agree with your comment relating to the proper usage of airplanes. Still the first 787 and the A380 will fly on the same route.

    If the 787 uses a lot of carbon fiber, I hope they have extensively tested for lightning. Carbon fiber might be conducting, but I wonder if the resistance path of a discharge by lightning is low enough. Having seen what electrical discharges around 10 kV can do to 5 mm thick FRP, I wonder how the Boeing engineers designed the lightning protection.

  • 0

    Tigerta9

    Yea...it's actually going to fly. I have heard about this delivery and every other story around it for the 100th time and I can't what's the news about this story except Boeing actually delivered it!

  • -2

    NetNinja

    Storm: Do you know what happens to a 787 when it's struck by lightning? [pause] Storm: The same thing that happens to everything else.

    That's coming from Storm.

  • 1

    Serrano

    "offer travelers much more comfort"

    Does this mean there's enough space between my seat and the seat in front of me so that my knees don't get crushed?

  • 1

    rainman1

    paulinusa: You are spot on - no need to add further to what you have said. The A350 is the plane you are thinking of. @electric: The 787 flight to Franfurt is from Haneda, 3 days a week, is overnight and is not competition. ANA fly to Franfurt daily on a 777-300ER in any case, code shared with LH, as is the daily LH A380 flight with ANA.

  • 2

    hoserfella

    Storm: Do you know what happens to a 787 when it's struck by lightning? [pause] Storm: The same thing that happens to everything else.

    That's coming from Storm.

    NetNinja - Just to confirm. That conversation was between "Storm" and who else? The thing that happens to everything else was what exactly? Was this "Storm" person quoting himself? Dopes he happen to work for either Boeing or the FAA?

  • -1

    Ben_Jackinoff

    horsefella,

    NetNinja is paraphrasing a quote from one of the X-Men movies.

  • 1

    hoserfella

    Ben - so this "Storm" is a comic book character? I see. Does he work for an airline, perhaps?

  • -2

    WilliB

    Yuriotani:

    It is true that plastics are used for military planes, but those are small ones. The dreamliner is the first time that such a massive contraption is built that way. Of course Boeing has done testing, but it is not a proven technology.

  • -3

    JapanGal

    Flying in a mini-skirt is much more comfortable than jeans. I hope the seat cushions hold up. Nothing worse than getting a seat that has been smashed down to the frame from heavy people. I would also like for there to be a white noise channel for the TV/Audio system.

  • -3

    NetNinja

    Awww....Napoleon. nice to see you are alive and well.

    Allow me to put things into context for you. Electric posted some concerns about the 787's ability to handle a lightning strike.

    I believe it's a legitmate concern. My opinion is simply this, we've never been able to control or overcome mother nature. If that plane gets hit in the right place with enough energy I believe it's going down.

    Excuse me, sometimes I depend on people being exposed to Hollywood and mainstream media too much. I should've put it in layman's terms for you. Of course, I didn't know you were still around.

  • -2

    hoserfella

    Excuse me, sometimes I depend on people being exposed to Hollywood and mainstream media too much. I should've put it in layman's terms for you. Of course, I didn't know you were still around.

    NetNinja - Unfortunately I'm usually only exposed to mainstream media geared towards those over the age of 14, but do you really need to quote cute little comic books to make a point?

    Thats coming from Hoser

    • Moderator

      Back on topic please.

  • 0

    Tom DeMicke

    Wow...electronically controlled window shades!! Awesome. Does that mean the flight attendants will control that? Hmmm...Now let's bring down some of those airfares! I would love to fly on it.

  • 0

    Elbuda Mexicano

    I am with JapanGal, would like to sit next to her on this new plane and buy her a few drinks! Kanpai and good luck to this new plane!

  • -1

    SushiSake3

    What a trainwreck - U.S. aircraft manufacturing was way more efficient than this 70 years ago during the war.

  • -3

    globalwatcher

    I am with WilliB, I just don't like a plastic airplane. I used to play with IT when I was a kid. Flying in a plastic airplane? I need to take a couple shots before flying. Just do not use this plastic thing between US and Japan, okay?

  • 0

    gyouza

    35% built in Japan! Something to be proud of!

  • -3

    globalwatcher

    gyouza, who designed its engine? US or Japan? Will you let me know?

    Another scary thoughts is that Boeing is committed to produce 10 airplanes a month. Hope they can keep up with production quality here. Not too fast! I just do not like it.

  • 1

    rainman1

    @globalwatcher: The engine for the the first ANA variants are from Rolls Royce. As I said to WilliB, if you don't like it, don't fly it - but don't come on this forum telling us not to fly 'plastic' planes without being able to back it up with some justifiable reason. The plane is late mainly from design problems, its well tested and I am very happy to try it as soon as possible.

  • 1

    Mirai Hayashi

    787 is covered in carbon fiber, basically a high-tech plastic that is strong but lightweight

    Carbon fiber is not "high tech plastic". Its a composite material made of graphite fiber tightly woven together and reinforced with resin.

  • 1

    Mirai Hayashi

    @globalwatcher

    Again, Carbon Fiber is NOT plastic. The article is erroneous in describing carbon fiber as high tech plastic when its not. "Plastic" implies that it's brittle, low tensile strength, and low melting temperature (all of the qualities that CF is not). CF's properties is much closer to that of steel, but does not conduct heat, or melt like steel or other metals do.

    Many exotic sports cars, and F1 cars are made of CF, because its much stronger and lighter than most metals. The only drawback to CF is its high production cost and "probably" the inability to easily recycle it, but once the demand goes up for it, the production costs will go down.

    CF is the future whether you like it or not, and most transportation including planes will transition from traditional metals such as aluminum and steel to CF. So if you fly, you will be flying in CF planes eventually if you haven't already.

    BTW, Airbus already uses CF in some of their newer planes, just not to the scale that Boeing did with the 787 (25% for the A380 and 80% for the B787.)

  • -1

    globalwatcher

    rainman 1, CBS news reported the same reaction like I did about "plastic". I am just a dumb traveler.

  • 0

    globalwatcher

    Mirai Hayashi, thanks. You are educating me. I like that!

  • 0

    rainman1

    @globalwatcher: For once..I agree with you!

  • -1

    globalwatcher

    rainman1Sep. 27, 2011 - 08:47AM JST

    @globalwatcher: For once..I agree with you!

    rainman, did I ever offend you personally? I do not recall. If I did, hope you take my sincere apology. When it comes to public policy, economics, and law, I have lots to say from my real experiences in the past..

  • -2

    globalwatcher

    Forgot to add, I love to read all blogs with a solid reasoning (right or wrong) just like we all do in college time. Someone has a completely different view on all topics, and I respect ALL if there is a good reasoning. Isn't it how it works in Japan?

  • 0

    rainman1

    @global: Not offended me at all! I just think you make a load of pointless comments on this forum without understanding the subject matter.

  • -1

    globalwatcher

    @global: Not offended me at all! I just think you make a load of pointless comments on this forum without understanding the subject matter

    Where do you live? I do not live in Japan. Please help me where I do not get connection to the issues you have mentioned, so I can review. Thanks.

  • 0

    globalwatcher

    Furthermore, I have READ ALL your posts. Unfortunately, I have discovered most of your posts are addressed to one individual with criticism without reasonings. (I call it as a Hit-Run). That's not how it works in my country. Reasoning, conclusion are necessary for open debate.. Why is that? RESPECT others is a first step for democracy. No wonder so many excellent, sincere good bloggers have left JT. Democracy is 1000 miles away for Japan as long as people cannot debate. Too bad.

  • 0

    globalwatcher

    rainman1Sep. 26, 2011 - 08:46AM JST

    @WilliB: Then don't fly it.

    WilliB is not a kid. He can decide what he wants to do in life. It is his business. Are Japanese people telling others what to do in life? Again, it is against a basic rule of democracy. Grow up!

  • 0

    YuriOtani

    WilliB, it is not made of structural plastic. True nothing like the dreamliner has been made before. It may still have unexpected problems but so do the older jets. When the TWA 747-100 went down out of JFK, it was from a "new" problem even though it had been in service for 30 years. My advice for you is not to fly in it. This should be easy to do, very easy. Oh the Haneda flights really make me laugh. People are willing to spend thousand of dollars extra for these tickets. It makes no sense.

  • -1

    globalwatcher

    @yuri, the price of plane is $143 million dollars. That's what the CBS reported us here in US.

  • 0

    YuriOtani

    globalwatcher, I am referring to the extra fare people are paying to fly out of Haneda. Where I go in Tokyo makes it maybe 15 minutes closer. Then one would have to take the monorail. Well time will tell about the 787. As I said it will be a very long time before I get a chance to fly in one. For me it is "seasoned" flight attendants and UAL 747 or 777.

  • 0

    CHAMADE

    I don't like the idea of having 35 percent of it built in Japan. Americans can manage this technology by themselves and not rish having it seived off, and should benefit entirely from their innovations. The plane looks fabulous! Way to go, Boeing!

  • 0

    PT24881

    Being the first to get delivered its 'We Fly 1st' gadget is fine, ANA should send its 'Kamikaze' pilot to test fly the Boeing 787 -- its manoevrability of flying upside down !

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