Engineers Reach Design Milestone Nearly Two Weeks Early, Aircraft On Track For Major Assembly In 2016

Boeing has completed detailed design for the 787-10 Dreamliner, achieving another major milestone in the development of the newest and longest member of the 787 family. Boeing engineers reached the key milestone nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.

The milestone is critical to every development program because it means the information needed to build parts and tools for assembly has been completed and released for fabrication or procurement. Major assembly of the 787-10 will begin in 2016, followed by first flight in 2017 and first delivery in 2018.

"With the 787-10, we are building upon our experience and the 787-9 design itself to create this newest member of the super-efficient 787 family," said Ken Sanger, vice president of 787 Airplane Development. "Through our dedicated team and our disciplined processes, we have optimized the design for the needs of the market and are excited as we look forward to production."

As a straightforward stretch of the 787-9, which entered service in 2014, Boeing designed the 787-10 for superior efficiency as well as maximum commonality. Ninety-five percent of the design and build of the 787-10 and 787-9 will be identical, reducing complexity, cost and risk across the production system and providing operational benefits to customers.

The 787-10 is the third and longest member of the 787 family. With a range of 6,430 nautical miles, the 787-10 will cover more than 90 percent of the world's twin-aisle routes at a whole new level of fuel efficiency: 25 percent more fuel efficient than the airplanes it will replace and at least 10 percent better than anything offered by the competition for the future.

To date, the 787-10 has logged 164 orders from nine customers around the world, accounting for 14 percent of all 787 orders.

(Image provided with Boeing news release)

FMI: www.boeing.com