Boeing locks design details for longest 787 Dreamliner

Boeing has been busy since announcing the longest version of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft at the 2013 Paris Air Show, and now the aircraft manufacturer says that it's completed the detailed design of the 787-10.

The latest Dreamliner is a direct evolution of the 787-9 that started service in 2014. One reason why the new stretched version came online so quickly is because Boeing engineers designed the 787-10 for maximum commonality with the 787-9 as a way of keeping down cost, complexity and risk, while increasing the aircraft's size and efficiency. The company says that the 787-10 shares 95 percent of its design with its predecessor.

This milestone is a major step for the 787-10 because by freezing the design it's now possible to release the information that will be needed for procuring parts and retooling manufacturing and assembly facilities. Boeing says that major assembly work is slated for next year, with the first flight scheduled for 2017 and deliveries to begin in 2018.

Boeing claims that the mid-size, widebody, long-range 787-10 Dreamliner is at least 10 percent more fuel efficient that its competitors. It has a range of 6,430 nm (11,910 km) and can operate on 90 percent of the twin-aisle airliner routes. The company reports that 164 orders from nine customers have been logged so far.

"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," says 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."

Source: Boeing