Boeing 787 to finally make first flight?

Boeing has announced that its long delayed Boeing 787 Dreamliner will finally make its first flight at the end of 2009.

The plane, which is now two years behind its original schedule, has been hit with a number of delays over the year. Boeing chairman Jim McNerney said the extra time would enable the remaining work to be completed, with the first plane being delivered for service in the last quarter of 2010.

Delays have mainly been caused by an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft which needed to be reinforced, however that delay was merely the fifth in a long line of problems.

McNerney also added that, "The design details and implementation plan are nearly complete, and the team is preparing airplanes for modification and testing."

Boeing added that the cost of the first three test planes, which have no commercial value, would be $2.5 billion. This, it said, would be included as a one-off charge in its July to September results.

"This charge will have no impact on the company's cash outlook going forward," Boeing said.

Made of carbon fibre making it much lighter and more fuel efficient than traditional aluminium planes., the Boeing 787 aims to be a direct rival to the European Airbus.

Currently the company has orders for 850 plans, with aims to be making ten a month by the end of 2013. In recent months, companies such as Boeing and Airbus have suffered lower than average orders due to the global recession. Carrier airlines have been cancelling plane orders in an effort to save money which has drastically hurt Boeing, as the company only receives payment for planes upon delivery. Boeing has also revealed that certain airline firms have been forced to cancelled 41 orders for the Dreamliner.

Founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing, the company is the largest global aircraft manufacturer by revenue, orders and deliveries, and the largest aerospace and defence contractor in the world.

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