Since this is a test aircraft, this 787 has a "Tail Cone Winch" click above photo of details.
Thousands were line up on the tarmac for hours for a chance to tour the inside of the 787 test Dreamliner.
The plane, ZA001, is the first 787 produced. It made its maiden test flight in December 2009 but will not enter commercial service.
The plane is still officially "experimental," sharing that title with many of the home-builts and other aircraft on display at the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual weeklong show. But that similarity will end soon.
Spectators got a first glimpse at features ranging from advanced aerodynamics to oversize windows designed to give passengers a view of the horizon from any seat that have made the Dreamliner the fastest-selling commercial airliner in Boeing history.
New advanced engines are the biggest factor to greater fuel efficiency, officials said. But other technologies and the use of lightweight composite materials on half of the primary structure, including the fuselage and wings, bolster the performance. In addition, the Dreamliner's pollutants have been reduced 20 percent compared with planes of similar size, Boeing officials said. Onboard comforts intended to improve the flying experience include better airflow and more humidity in the cabin to reduce the effect of jet lag during long flights. An onboard filtration system removes odors, allergens and bacteria. The test-flight plane was tightly outfitted with equipment that engineers and analysts use to monitor systems and performance.
Billed as an ultra-smart plane, the Dreamliner is designed to provide a smoother and quieter ride, said Boeing instrumentation engineer William Acheson. A vertical gust suppression system senses turbulence and commands wing-control surfaces to counter the choppy ride, he said. The sleek design that uses less aluminum means that a 787 has fewer than 10,000 holes drilled into it during assembly, compared with 1 million holes on a 747, and the number of fasteners on the first barrel section of a 787 has been reduced by 80 percent, Boeing said.
Boeing's Dreamliner gets near-giddy reaction from aviation buffs at Oshkosh air show Boeing expects FAA to certify 787 in August
July 30, 2011
By Jon Hilkevitch, Tribune reporter
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner decked out like a flying laboratory received a rousing welcome at its U.S. public debut Friday. The reception by thousands of aviation enthusiasts at the AirVenture air show rivaled the anticipation of airlines that are lined up to buy the first-of-its-kind jetliner.
