Boeing 787 - Flying as It Was Meant to Be

THE BOEING 787:

FLYING AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE

by

Angelo Antonio Fresco

Term Paper

Submitted to the Extended Campus

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of

ASCI 611

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Worldwide Online

June 2010

ABSTRACT

Researcher: Angelo Antonio Fresco

Title: The Boeing 787: Flying as it was meant to be

Institution: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Degree: Master of Aeronautical Science

Year: 2010

Meant to be aviations next Sonic Cruiser, airline customers and Boeing has unveiled a new airliner for the 21st century, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Some of the safety systems the 787 will feature will be: ultra modern safety advances in cockpit automation, dramatic improvements in engine reliability, a new and more accurate global positioning system, new integrated surveillance systems, the latest version of nose-mounted weather radar, and a fuel tank inerting system. The 787 will use 20 percent less fuel than today's airplanes of comparable size and provide passengers with innovations that include a new interior environment with cleaner air, larger windows, more stowage space, improved lighting and other passenger-preferred conveniences that no other airliner can offer today.

Introduction of the 787

The Boeing 787 traces back its roots to the Boeing Sonic Cruiser, a fast subsonic aircraft first introduced by the Boeing Company in 2001. The main selling point of the Sonic Cruiser was a high subsonic speed that could reduce travel time by up to 20%. The aircraft was to have been designed with all the latest technology available including an all composite fuselage which would have been the first of any commercial airliner. By the fall of 2002, major world airlines had indicated to Boeing that they preferred an aircraft with improved economics rather than increased speed. This pressure led to the discontinuation of the development of the Sonic Cruiser program in favor of a more fuel efficient airliner ultimately becoming the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with Boeing estimating up to 20% in fuel savings over comparable twin engine jets. To date, fifty-seven airline customers from around the world have ordered 876 Dreamliners, making the 787 the fastest-selling new commercial jetliner in history (Aviation Week & Space Technology, March 2010, p. 20). Boeing has one announced large 787 deal pending. In October 2008, American Airlines said it would order forty-two, 787-9's with options for 58 more pending upon a labor dispute with its pilots (Aviation Week & Space Technology).

The Boeing 787 will be launched in 3 versions and all versions will be midsized, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliners. The 787-3 will be a short-range airliner aimed at the high density short to medium range market. It will be able to seat 223 passengers in a three class configuration with a range of about 3,000 nautical miles. Considered the base model, it is similar to the 787-3 but has a longer wingspan for longer flights. It will use winglets to decrease the wingspan and improve efficiency over short distances. It is aimed at replacing midsize jets such as the 767 and Airbus A330. The 787-8 will be similar in size but will feature longer wings with raked wing tips to enable a range of up to 8,200 nautical miles. Considered the most unique of the three because of a wing and structure optimized for shorter-range flights. It is designed to replace the Airbus A300, Boeing 757-300, Boeing 767-200 and -300. The 787-9 is a stretched version of the other two models but will carry an extra 40 passengers over an improved range of over 8,500 nautical miles. Both the 787-8 and -9's raked wingtips will make the jets optimally efficient for their long range flights. Stretched version of the 787-8 with structural strengthening, lengthened fuselage and a higher fuel capacity. It will be aimed at replacing midsize jets such as the 767 and Airbus A330. In addition to the 787-9, Boeing plans to build another stretch version, the 787-10, which will seat more than 300 passengers. The earliest availability of that model is 2013.

The Boeing 787 not only brings unmatched economics to the air but also a whole new style as well. The design of the aircraft includes many aesthetically pleasing features such as sharply swept back tail surfaces, a bullet-like nose with four large cockpit windows, and highly swept back wings supporting two ultra-high bypass engines with notched exhaust cowlings to reduce noise levels. The sleek sharply tapered raked wingtips will add even more appeal to the 787-8, -9, and -10 models.

Airlines will be able to select between two power plants. The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 or the General Electric Next Generation engines will be offered. The engines will have serrated rear edges called chevrons which are designed to make the 787 very quiet. Both are rated to up to 75,000 lbs. of thrust and will be the first bleedless engines used on a large commercial airliner. A bleedless engine means that instead of diverting high pressure air away from the engine, they will generate electrical energy to power the various systems which will result in lower fuel burn. The engines will have an ultra bypass ratio of 9.5 to 1 which will reduce noise levels considerably. Along with fuel efficiency and increased aircraft technology comes multiple benefits to the environment. Reduced fuel burn results in less carbon dioxide emissions, one of the greenhouse gases held responsible for global warming. Therefore, by using new engines, aerodynamic improvements, lighter-weight materials and other engineering advances, the 787's will be the most environmentally friendly airliner ever built.

The 787 is truly a world-wide project with many sub assemblies and systems being