Aircraft

Boeing plans to reduce airframe drag on the 787 by standardising on a specific thickness of grey paint for the engine inlet, which it says will preserve natural laminar flow over a larger area of the inlet.

The benefits of laminar flow over the nacelle include increased range, improved fuel economy, and even reduced aircraft weight. These benefits add up to improved operating economics as well as reduced emissions.

By using a seamless paint layer applied according to tight Boeing design tolerances, as opposed to the more traditional airline practice of applying several layers of different paint, the company says thousands of litres of fuel will be saved every year.