Attn: Aviation Nerds

[Bigtime]

Well if you are a big aviation buff like myself then you should know that today Boeing is going to fly the new 787 for the first time. The flight is scheduled for 10am PST.

Catch all the action here: http://www.newairplane.com/787/ and http://787firstflight.newairplane.com/ffindex.html

This aircraft could really be a big deal for us in YYC, if its performance numbers do in fact deliver it could open up many more non-stop flights from YYC to destinations abroad. AC could operate one of these birds direct to a Chinese destination, taking advantage of Canada's new status as an approved travel destination.

[VladtheImpaler]

I hope this guy has not been sighted in the vicinity...

[JohnnyB]

I'm no aviation nerd, but that does seem like a pretty cool plane. I really like the LED lighting and the windows on it.

[SteveToms]

You called? I've been looking forward to this day for over 2 years. I can't be home or near a computer to watch it takeoff live, but I should get back home in time for landing.

[mykalberta]

I will be watching this.

Hopefully for Boeing this goes well - we all know its been delayed enough. Should have never promoted captain ahab instead of Mulally to run B.

[Dan02]

Personally I think it's a little crazy there's something like $125 billion in orders for a plane that hasn't even flown yet...

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Personally I think it's a little crazy there's something like $125 billion in orders for a plane that hasn't even flown yet...

It going to fly, and the wait time for new jetliners is years.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Personally I think it's a little crazy there's something like $125 billion in orders for a plane that hasn't even flown yet...

why?

With the promise and success or the 777 project, airlines trust that Boeing will deliver (eventually).

Also, Boeing would never undertake this design and testing if it didnt have significant pre - orders. This type of thing isnt exactly cheap.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Wow, hope the aircraft works better then that website, kept freezing on me.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Wow, hope the aircraft works better then that website, kept freezing on me.

As long as it was just freezing and not crashing.

[Tyler]

Are any airplane manufacturers doing what the auto industry is, and looking to design passenger airplanes that don't run on jet fuel? Is it even safe to fly a plane on something like electricity?

Once fuel becomes insanely expensive, is the world just going to stop flying? This is something that's always kind of bothered me. Are we going to have to revert back to bullet trains for quick and expedient travel at some point?

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Are any airplane manufacturers doing what the auto industry is, and looking to design passenger airplanes that don't run on jet fuel? Is it even safe to fly a plane on something like electricity?

Once fuel becomes insanely expensive, is the world just going to stop flying? This is something that's always kind of bothered me. Are we going to have to revert back to bullet trains for quick and expedient travel at some point?

We're not going to run out of oil for the near future. Production may decline in 20ish years but there will always be oil.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Are any airplane manufacturers doing what the auto industry is, and looking to design passenger airplanes that don't run on jet fuel? Is it even safe to fly a plane on something like electricity?

Once fuel becomes insanely expensive, is the world just going to stop flying? This is something that's always kind of bothered me. Are we going to have to revert back to bullet trains for quick and expedient travel at some point?

The name of the game in flying is saving on weight.
Batteries are just WAY to heavy, plus jet engines aren't like a care engine that you can just swap out for an electric motor, so no I don't think flying on electricity is even close to feasible just yet. I mean, I'm sure there are some small planes (like ultralights) kicking around somewhere, but commercial liners aren't in the cards any time soon.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Are any airplane manufacturers doing what the auto industry is, and looking to design passenger airplanes that don't run on jet fuel? Is it even safe to fly a plane on something like electricity?

Once fuel becomes insanely expensive, is the world just going to stop flying? This is something that's always kind of bothered me. Are we going to have to revert back to bullet trains for quick and expedient travel at some point?

When it becomes uneconomical to fly we'll move onto something else. Isn't air travel more of a luxury than anything now, anyway? I mean, we have email, the Internet, phones, faxes, etc. All that crap didn't exist 100 years ago when they invented planes (well maybe phones did - I'm not going to bother looking it up) and in many ways this new technology can replace the face-to-face communication and package delivery for which planes were useful.

Honestly, if I didn't make it to Mexico every few years or had to drive to Vancouver instead of flying I'm sure my life wouldn't change much at all. That probably goes the same for 99% of air travellers.

In other words, don't worry about it.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Are any airplane manufacturers doing what the auto industry is, and looking to design passenger airplanes that don't run on jet fuel? Is it even safe to fly a plane on something like electricity?

Once fuel becomes insanely expensive, is the world just going to stop flying? This is something that's always kind of bothered me. Are we going to have to revert back to bullet trains for quick and expedient travel at some point?

Boeing has worked on things, but its like batteries in cars, right now they are just too heavy.

You wouldnt just need to replicate the power that jet fuel provides, you would need to almost double the amount because as it burns fuel it takes less fuel to fly the plane.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Dan02

Personally I think it's a little crazy there's something like $125 billion in orders for a plane that hasn't even flown yet...

these projects would never get off the ground without pre-orders

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

these projects would never get off the ground without pre-orders

no ****, but still 125B, that's a big chunk of change.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Dan02

no ****, but still 125B, that's a big chunk of change.

Its not all prepayment.

Its only about 30% prepayment, and likely much less because the 125bil is at list prices and alot of the first orders would have got large discounts likely on the 30-40% especially for someone like ANA.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Dan02

no ****, but still 125B, that's a big chunk of change.

its not like the airlines pay cash for these planes

Boeing's share of the development cost for the 787 was ~$20B. According to Forbes, Boeings pre-tax margins are ~6%, so they need to sell a lot more than $125B worth before they recoup their costs and start making money. Put in perspective, $125B isn't a real "big chunk"

[QuadCityImages]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Are any airplane manufacturers doing what the auto industry is, and looking to design passenger airplanes that don't run on jet fuel? Is it even safe to fly a plane on something like electricity?

Guess we'd better restart the nuclear-powered airplane development.