787 By Design (2024)

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an all-new, super-efficient family of commercial airplanes that brings big-jet ranges and speed to the middle of the market.

In response to airlines' overwhelming preference, Boeing designed the 787 family with superior efficiency, which allows airlines to profitably open new routes to fly people directly where they'd like to go in exceptional comfort.

Systems

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  Smooth Ride

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  Large, dimmable
  windows

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  More-electric systems

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  Electric brakes

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  Electric wing ice protection

Aero

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  Laminar flow nacelles

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  Low-noise chevrons

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  Raked wingtips

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  Low-drag empennage

Structure

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  One-piece barrel
  sections

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  Composite floor beams

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  Composite cab structure

Engine

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  Leading engine
  solutions

The 787 Dreamliner features a state-of-the-art flight deck that balances commonality with the latest enhancements. New technologies are integrated while still maintaining a significant amount of commonality with other Boeing airplanes, particularly the 777. Familiar Boeing controls, displays and procedures all support shorter transition periods to the 787 from other Boeing family members, enabling efficient Mixed Fleet Flying.

The 787 flight deck is furnished with a full suite of navigation and communication radios and avionics. Dual Head-Up Display (HUD), very large flat panel multifunction displays, dual Electronic Flight Bags (EFB), and an electronic check list are provided as standard.

The wide-format displays provide a larger map and enhance access to information about the flight and navigation. Also, the new displays are programmable, which means future advancements can be easily incorporated without having to replace or upgrade the display hardware.

Conventional Pneumatic Architecture
On conventional airplanes, pneumatic systems divert hot, high-pressure air from the engines to power other systems. Not only does this require a complex system of manifolds, valves and ducts, it requires constant monitoring and frequent maintenance. It also tends to be inefficient because of the weight of the system and because air is "bled" off the engines, which then have to work harder.

787 More-Electric Architecture
The more-electric architecture of the 787 Dreamliner family eliminates the pneumatic and bleed-air system. The electric system improves efficiency by extracting only the power actually needed during each phase of flight. The 787's electrical system also is monitored automatically by the Airplane Health Management system, improving airplane availability and productivity.

Airflow
The 787's simple pivot trailing edge flaps allow for much smaller flap track fairings than on conventional aircraft. This gives the airplane highly efficient lift-to-drag characteristics that reduce fuel consumption and costs. In addition, the 787's simple pivot trailing edge has fewer parts for reduced maintenance and provides a lighter and simpler high-lift system without sacrificing performance.

Structure
The use of composite materials in the wing structure allows the 787 wing to have a higher aspect ratio (the square of the wing span divided by the wing area) than previous aircraft. This high aspect ratio wing design combined with efficiency enhancing raked wing tips allow the 787 to be one of the fastest commercial aircraft (Mach 0.85 cruise speed) while consuming less fuel than today's comparably sized aircraft.

The 787 Dreamliner family features an advanced fly-by-wire flight control system. Instead of a mechanical system of cables and pulleys that move the control surfaces on the wing and tail, fly-by-wire systems translate pilot inputs into electrical signals. Computer processors translate these signals and move the control surfaces accordingly to move the airplane. Used on commercial airplanes for decades, fly-by-wire systems are highly reliable and feature multiple independent backup systems in case of a failure.

The 787's fly-by-wire control system is so advanced that it optimizes the shape (or "camber") of the wing automatically to save the most fuel. During cruise, the wing trailing edge automatically adjusts upward and downward to continually optimize the camber for maximum efficiency. Normally used to dip the wing up or down to turn in flight, ailerons on the 787 also adjust automatically to help optimize the wing during takeoff and cruise. This advanced fly-by-wire system also is the key to Smoother Ride Technology – unique to the 787 family -- which senses turbulence and adjusts control surfaces automatically to dampen its effects before it reaches the passengers.

When designing an airplane, engineers aim to create surfaces over which air flows smoothly. At the high speeds of commercial flight, this "laminar" flow is key because it reduces friction, which reduces drag, fuel consumption and emissions.

New technology in the 787 nacelle is designed to maintain laminar flow over a longer portion of the surface than ever before, saving more fuel and emissions.

The materials selected for the 787 Dreamliner provide the lowest operating costs over the life of the airplane. Selecting optimum materials means analyzing every area of the airframe to determine the best solution based on the operating environment and loads experienced over the life of the airplane.

The chief breakthrough material technology on the 787 is the increased use of composites. The 787 is 50 percent composite by weight. A majority of the primary structure is made of composite materials, most notably the fuselage.

Composite materials have many advantages. They allow a lighter, simpler structure, which increases airplane efficiency, reduces fuel consumption and reduces weight-based maintenance and fees. They do not fatigue or corrode, which reduces scheduled maintenance and increases productive time. Composites resist impacts better and are designed for easy visual inspection. Minor damage can be repaired at the gate in less than an hour. Larger damaged sections can be repaired exactly like today's aircraft, through bolted repairs, or using a bonded repair.

From the start, Boeing designed the 787 family with the passenger in mind. Extensive research into what affects comfort led Boeing to many design innovations on the 787 family, including

Large, spacious cabin: The 787’s cabin architecture creates a strong sense of spaciousness with its broad, welcoming entryway, large windows and vaulted ceiling. The 787 cabin is wider than that of the airplanes it replaces, so passengers enjoy more personal space, both physically and visually.

Better lighting: Modern, adjustable LED lighting provides more lighting choices to create a relaxing environment.

Largest windows in the sky: With the largest windows of any jet, on the 787 every seat is a window seat: Every person can see to the horizon, for a view like never before. The windows also dim at the touch of a button, allowing passengers to look outside when they wish and still maintain a dimmed cabin when appropriate.

Cleaner, more comfortable air: The 787 combines new filtration, better pressure and more humidity to help passengers feel less dryness and fatigue.

Smoother Ride Technology: Sensors on the 787 sense and dampen turbulence for a more comfortable ride and less motion sickness.

Large overhead bins: There's space for your carry-on near your seat.

Better seating options: The 787 offers the latest in seat comfort and technology.

• Boarding
• Cruise
• Meal Service
• Sleep
• Prelanding
• Relaxation

Today's airplanes have very clean air, thanks to the same technology used in hospital operating rooms. The 787 has even better air quality due to an innovative purification method known as gaseous filtration. Research has shown that contaminants cause many of the symptoms that often are associated with low humidity. Air purification removes those gaseous contaminants and reduces symptoms such as throat irritation. The gaseous filtration system on the 787 cleans the cabin air by removing contaminants, including offensive odors.

HEPA filters leave the air essentially particle free and are effective at removing bacteria, viruses, fungi, and a new gaseous filtration system, unique to the 787, removes common irritants that have a drying effect

Others

787

The 787 ensures that sounds of 85 decibels – which is slightly louder than a busy street intersection – or higher never leave airport boundaries. In fact, the noise footprint of the 787 is more than 60 percent smaller than the airplane it replaces.

Ramp noise reductions are the result of improvements in airplane systems like the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU).

A report issued by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority determined that the Boeing 787 is significantly quieter than the airplanes it replaces, on average between seven and eight decibels quieter on departure and up to three decibels quieter on arrival.

The 787 is a key member of the Boeing wide body family.

Only Boeing offers a modern, optimized and winning airplane in every market. Our products are designed to offer airlines superior value and efficient market coverage.

1,300+ orders from 71 customers

Market response to the 787 has been incredible with customers on six continents—Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

Exceptional fuel efficiency: The 787 family uses 20 to 25 percent less fuel on a per passenger basis than the airplanes they replace.

Low maintenance costs: The strong, durable composites that make up the 787 fuselage contribute to a 30 percent reduction in airframe maintenance costs than for previous-generation airplanes.

Mixed-fleet flying: Significant flight-deck commonality between the 787 and 777 benefits airlines that use mixed-fleet flying, scheduling pilots to fly more than one kind of airplane. Pilots who fly the 777 need only five days of training to fly the 787.

Standard airplane: This philosophy minimizes variation while still providing options desired by airlines and leasing companies.

Higher speed: At Mach 0.85, the 787 is as fast as the 777 and 747 and faster than other airplanes of its size. Boeing's flexible twin-aisle offerings allows an airline to have airplane families with the same speed, range and economics in three distinct sizes.

More revenue cargo: The 787 family is an excellent cargo carrier, which is key revenue for most airlines, especially as they open new city pairs.

More flying days: With its advanced, single-barrel composite fuselage and robust design, the 787 needs less scheduled maintenance than previous-generation airplanes, which translates to more flying days and more revenue.

Nonstop routes: The 787 allows airlines to open new long-distance routes profitably, satisfying passengers' expectations for direct flights. To date, operators have opened or announced more than 100 new nonstop routes with the 787 family.

Flexible seating configuration: Operators can configure the 787 interior quickly and in a variety of ways to match their market needs.

Preferred passenger experience: Passengers want to fly nonstop to where they want to go on midsized airplanes, such as the 787, rather than connect through hubs on giant-sized airplanes. In addition, the 787 offers many new passenger-pleasing features that provide unprecedented comfort, convenience and a great flying experience.

• 787-8 Strategic Advantage
• 787-9 Profitable Growth
• 787-10 Efficiency Machine

The Dreamlifter is a unique tool developed by Boeing with Evergreen.

This family of four specially modified 747s transports the large 787 fuselage sections and other structures from our partners’ locations around the world to our final assembly sites in Everett, Wash. and North Charleston, SC.

drag to rotate

• 248 Passengers
  2-Class Configuration
• 13,530 km / 7,305 nmi
  Range

drag to rotate

• 296 Passengers
  2-Class Configuration
• 14,010 km / 7,565 nm
  Range

drag to rotate

• 336 Passengers
  2-Class Configuration
• 11,730 km / 6,330 nm
  Range