Boeing jet flies like a 'Dream' on Boston test flight
March 05--Sightseeing from the cockpit of a 787 Dreamliner while cruising at 16,000 feet on a clear sunny day, it's hard not to get caught up in the hoopla surrounding Boeing's newest aircraft -- even if the destination was just Jersey.
Sixty-four passengers boarded a test version of the jet -- ZA003, the third 787-8 to come off the assembly line in Washington -- for today's Boston-to-Newark flight of the global 787 Dreamtour, getting an advanced look at the aircraft that Japan Airlines will use for its new nonstop service from Logan International Airport to Tokyo next month.
With a more lightweight body largely made of carbon fiber/plastic composites instead of aluminum, the much-delayed 787 Dreamliner is much-hyped for its super-aerodynamic wing technology, speed, fuel efficiency and greater range.
"Every place the airplane goes, it's a rock star," Boeing marketing director Diana Klug said. "When we left Dublin, the traffic was actually stopped."
And Boeing also is heralding the improvements that the 787 has in store for passengers on long-haul flights. Higher cabin humidity and cleaner air will reduce dry eyes and complaints of headaches and leave fliers more refreshed upon landing, according to Boeing, and lower cabin altitude pressure results in a smoother ride and an eight-fold reduction in motion sickness.
Some of the passenger benefits were evident on today's flight, including a cabin that's about 21/2 feet wider than the 767 and can be configured with eight or nine seats abreast. LED mood lighting can be slowly adjusted as the plane moves through time zones. There are higher clearances above the middle seats; and overhead storage bins are 50 percent roomier than a similar-sized plane. The cabin also was less noisy on takeoff and easier on the eardrums.
The 787's windows, which are higher and 30 percent larger than other planes, provided stunning views of Boston Harbor at takeoff and the New York City skyline as the plane descended -- even from the middle row of seats. They also allow passengers to see the impressive, supple wings that rise up 10 feet to 14 feet from their resting perch when the 787 gets lift after takeoff.
"It's one of the most beautiful views of the airplane," Klug said.
The electronically controlled, shadeless windows also can be dimmed to five different levels by passengers, and transform from completely transparent to dark in 90 seconds.
Even the rest rooms have some high-tech advances hat allow for a more hands-free experience.
"We know that people are germaphobes," said Boeing engineer Larry Seto. "For the most part, they don't want to touch anything in a public rest room."
While passengers still will have to raise the toilet seat's lid, a wave of the hand across an infrared sensor activates a rod that kicks the seat down and automatically flushes it. The faucets also are touchless. (And, on a slightly icky note, the patterns of the floor and sink were chosen to hide unsightly stains during long flights.)
But it will be up to Japan Airlines to customize its 787s in terms of the 42 business class and 144 economy seats, in-flight entertainment and other amenities for its Boston-Tokyo flights. The airline won't make those announcements until it takes delivery of the aircraft.
The ZA003 has only 64 flight-certified seats installed by Boeing -- leaving room for a crew "dance floor" in economy class -- so judging their comfort and leg-room is for naught.
Boeing used the ZA003, which so far has logged about 700 flight hours, to test the plane's passenger environment before embarking on the six-month Dreamtour in Beijing in December.
Wall Street financiers enjoying Bloody Marys and orange juice were pretty giddy about the test plane, even taking photos of themselves next to a sign denoting it was "experimental" and did not comply with safety regulations for standard aircraft.
For Capt. Randy Neville, Boeing's chief 787 pilot, the Dreamliner and its state-of-the-art flight deck live up to its name.
"It looks and operates very similar to a 777, which was one of the design goals Boeing had," Neville said. "The airplane is a pleasure to fly. It really flies nicely."
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