Boeing Looks for Momentum in Dreamliner Takeoff

[iandhr]

Source: NY TIMES

EVERETT, Wash. — The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner lifted into the gray skies here for the first time on Tuesday morning, far behind schedule and burdened with restoring Boeing’s preeminence in global commercial aviation.

Yet at least for the moment, here in the Seattle suburb where generations of families have built planes for Boeing, the first flight was an unqualified thrill.

“Engines, engines, engines, engines!” shouted April Seixeiro, 37, when the glossy plane began to warm up, several hundred yards across Paine Field from where spectators had informally gathered, at around 9:25 a.m. local time. Ms. Seixeiro was among hundreds of people, some Boeing employees, but many simply self-described “aviation geeks,” who came to watch the takeoff.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/us/16flight.html?_r=1&hp

[Brickbat]

1. It looked awesome on TV, and I hope it bodes well for Boeing.

Congratulations to all who worked on the project. :patriot:

[Goldstein1984]

2. Show the world what Americans can build

Show Americans what we can build.

Good to see it in the air.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

5. Show them something else,

the 787 program is an unmitigated disaster build on botched outsourcing and trying to build a widebody airliner on the cheap. Neither of which was successful and thanks to cascading late penalties the program may never turn a profit. On top of that they will be moving the assembly line to the south in a union busting move to a plant that has already fucked up everything they have ever touched.

Go Boeing Woo-Hoo!

[Stella_Artois]

6. I wish they would

A lot of the 787 will be built outside the US.

[Goldstein1984]

7. I stand duly chastized...

I was aware of the production problems and other delays, and I knew that there was some outsourcing, but I didn't realize the outsourcing was outside the country, and I didn't know about the union-busting move.

The same union-busting thing is happening in Alaska. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is changing its contractor for pipeline maintenance and support, probably resulting in hundreds of Alaska union employees losing their jobs. These people, many with two or three decades of experience, are going to be replaced by non-union employees from outside the state. The oil companies are doing everything they can to save a buck. Corrosion control programs are being suspended (thus the BP North Slope spills), run-to-fail is replacing preventative maintenance, positions are being cut, working conditions are deteriorating, and safety and environmental protection are suffering.

[Richard D]

3. I look forward to flying in one

They are truly beautiful, especially if you can get into first class, which sadly I can't yet.
Hopefully the steerage class has more sitting space than other planes.

[liberal N proud]

4. I recently flew to Europe on a 777 and back on a 767

In steerage as you call it, back rows both directions. I could have had first class but the company gives me 1/2 the difference if I don't.

My experience, the 777 is a comfortable ride whereas the 767 was little more cramped.

If the Dreamliner is anything like the 777 or better, it will be a great ride.