The 210-330-seat Boeing 787 is aimed at a potential replacement market for the Boeing 767, Airbus A300-600 and A330-200/-300, estimated at more than 3,500 medium-range airliners. Three versions of the 787 have been approved: The 210-250-passenger 787-8, with a range of 15,700km, 787-9, carrying up to 290 passengers up to 16,300km and the 330-seat, 6,500km range 787-3.

Powered by two 55,000lb Ð 70,000lb thrust engines from General Electric and Rolls-Royce. GE is developing the new GEnX, Rolls-Royce the Trent 1000. Boeing claims a 20 per cent fuel burn advantage for the 787 over the 767 and an increased cruising speed of Mach 0.85.

A range of new technologies are being incorporated into the Boeing 787. At least half of its primary structure will be built from composite materials, more than any other airliner.

History

The 787 programme came out of the 7E7 study for a conventional aircraft to replace the original Sonic Cruiser programme after Boeing decided it was over-ambitious. Board approval for the Boeing 787 came in late 2003 with full launch and a record order for 50 aircraft from All Nippon Airways. Since then 58 airlines have ordered 896 Boeing 787s, making it the most successful aircraft launch in BoeingÕs history.