Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner flew for the first time at Boeing South Carolina. The airplane, which is the latest and longest model of the 787 family, accomplished a successful flight totalling four hours and 58 minutes.
“The 787-10’s first flight moves us one step closer to giving our customers the most efficient airplane in its class,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president & CEO Kevin McAllister. “The airplane will give carriers added flexibility in growing their network routes and build on the overwhelming success of the 787 Dreamliner family.”
Staffed by Boeing Test & Evaluation Capts.Tim Berg and Mike Bryan, the airplane performed tests on flight controls, systems and handling qualities. The 787-10 will go through complete flight testing before customer deliveries begin in the first half of 2018.
“From takeoff to landing, the airplane handled beautifully and just as expected,” said Berg, chief 787 pilot. “The 787-10 is a fantastic machine that I know our customers and their passengers will love.”
The 787-10 has received 149 orders from nine customers from around the globe including launch customer Singapore Airlines, Air Lease Corporation (ALC), All Nippon Airways (ANA), British Airways, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and United Airlines.
The 787-10 will deliver ideal traveller experience and long range with 25 percent better fuel per seat and emissions than the airplanes it will replace.
The 787 Dreamliner family is an important part of Boeing’s twin-aisle airplane strategy, offering a contemporary, optimised and capable airplane family in every market segment. Since entering service in 2011, the 787 family has flown more than 152 million people on over 560 routes around the world, saving an anticipated 14 billion pounds of fuel.
