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787 Dreamliner finally flies

16 December 2009

The battered aviation industry at last had cause to celebrate yesterday when when Boeing's much delayed 787 took to the skies from Paine Field, Everett, just North of Seattle. Made from lightweight composite materials the aircraft could give Boeing an edge in its continuing rivalry with Airbus as the airlines look to reduce fuel costs and increase efficiencies. The aircraft has been plagued by problems due to a variety of setbacks, from outsourcing issues to stresses being detected in the wing to fuselage attachments during hangar based testing.

Test pilot, Mike Carriker said, "We have a plastic airplane........we think we're OK, otherwise we wouldn't go flying. But the proof is still in the pudding."

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