The rollout of the Boeing B787

Sunday, 8 July 2007 (a little after 1030 on Monday New Zealand time) will see Boeing rollout the first new B787 aircraft. Already pictures of the aircraft in the paint shop have been published on the web. For me though the more significant event will be the first flight.

There will be massive media coverage of the rollout. I recommend having a look at a couple of blogs - those of Seattle Post-Intelligencer aerospace reporter James Wallace and of Boeing Commercial Airlines Vice President, Marketing, Randy Tinseth.

It is already clear that this aircraft and its engines have the potential to represent one of the major advances in the history of civil aviation technology. What I find stunning is that so many airlines have ordered the B787 even before its has flown - Air New Zealand was the second airline to do so back in 2004 and now has eight on order. The aircraft's combination of size and long range will make it particularly significant for remote countries like New Zealand and Australia.