Commercial

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Manufacturer: Boeing

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a wide‑body, twin‑jet airliner built by Boeing. It uses composite materials and advanced engines to fly 200–300 passengers up to 8,500 nautical miles. The design focuses on fuel efficiency and long‑range point‑to‑point travel.

Aircraft Facts

Type Key
boeing-787
Class
Commercial
Registry Count
205
Example Registration
N12003

Specifications

Wingspan
60.1 m / 197.2 ft
Length
57 m / 187 ft
Height
16.9 m / 55.4 ft
Max Speed
945 km/h / 587 mph
Cruise Speed
913 km/h / 567 mph
Range
15750 km / 9787 mi
Ceiling
13140 m / 43110 ft
First Flight
2009-12-15
Production Start
2011-09-26
Total Built
1000

Aircraft Overview

History

Boeing announced the 787 in 2003 after canceling the Sonic Cruiser. The program launched in 2004 with an order from ANA. A prototype rolled out in 2007, but the aircraft faced delays and battery fires. It first flew in December 2009, received type certification in August 2011, and entered service with ANA in October 2011. Production slowed after 2019, and a fatal crash occurred in June 2025.

Design

The 787’s airframe is mostly composite, reducing weight and improving fuel efficiency. It uses high‑by‑pass GE GEnx or Rolls‑Royce Trent 1000 engines and has a large electrical system that powers many functions. The cockpit features four windows, and the wings have raked tips with chevron engine nacelles to cut noise. The design targets about 20% lower fuel burn than the 767 and supports 200–300 passengers on routes up to 8,500 nautical miles.

Variants

The main variants are the 787‑8, 787‑9, and 787‑10. The 787‑8 seats about 248 passengers and flies 7,305 nm. The stretched 787‑9 seats 296 and flies 7,565 nm, while the 787‑10 seats 336 and flies 6,330 nm. A freighter version is planned for future production, and a 787‑3 short‑haul model was cancelled.

Operations

Airlines use the 787 for long‑range, point‑to‑point flights that carry 200–300 passengers. It serves routes up to 8,500 nautical miles, replacing older wide‑body aircraft on many airlines. Operators include All Nippon Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air India, and many others worldwide.

Notable Facts

  • The 787 was the first commercial airliner built with a composite airframe.
  • It is powered by either GE GEnx or Rolls‑Royce Trent 1000 high‑by‑pass engines.
  • Lithium‑ion battery fires caused the FAA to ground all 787s in 2013.
  • The aircraft entered commercial service with ANA in October 2011.
  • Boeing spent about $32 billion on the 787 program.
  • As of April 2026, the 787 had 2,424 orders and 1,270 deliveries.
  • The first fatal crash of a 787 occurred on 12 June 2025 with Air India Flight 171.
  • The 787 achieves roughly 20 % lower fuel burn than the Boeing 767.
  • Its cockpit features four large windows for better visibility.
  • The wings have raked tips and chevron engine nacelles to reduce noise.

Variants

  • 787-9- 110 registrations - Example N128AM
  • 787-8- 73 registrations - Example N20904
  • 787-10- 21 registrations - Example N12003
  • 787-8 Dreamliner- 1 registrations - Example N26902

Machine-Readable Resources

Sources