Having finalized the model's design a year ago, Boeing has now begun the final assembly of its first 787-10 Dreamliner. The 787-10 is a mid-size, widebody passenger aircraft designed for long-range flights and is the longest member of the 787 Dreamliner family, as well as the most efficient Boeing plane so far.
The 787-10 Dreamliner is being built at Boeing South Carolina's Final Assembly facility, in a process that will see its major sections joined together, interior and exterior components fitted and power turned on. Production tests will also be carried out.
The 787-10 is the third 787 Dreamliner model and is based on the earlier 787-9, with Boeing saying that both design cost and time were able to be minimized as a result. At 224-ft (68-m) long, compared to the 206 ft (63 m) length of the 787-9, it has more room for seats and cargo, with up to 330 passengers able to be accommodated in a in a two-class configuration and 6,802 cu ft (193 cu m) of cargo space.
Boeing says the plane is 25 percent more efficient in terms of fuel per seat and emissions than the those it will replace and that is at least 10 percent more fuel efficient that its competitors. Fully fueled, the 787-10 will have a range of 6,430 nautical miles (11,910 km).
There are 154 orders from nine customers so far for the 787-10. Its first flight is set for next year and first deliveries are expected in 2018.
Source: Boeing