Not quite a U-2 or SR-71.
Posted on 07/16/2006 4:54:51 PM PDT by jern
Boeing acknowledges 787 problems
By LAURENCE FROST, AP Business Writer 22 minutes ago
Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is overweight and experiencing delays with some suppliers, the company said Sunday, while stressing that the long-range, fuel-efficient jet remains on budget and on schedule.
Rival Airbus, however, announced this weekend that the widely expected redesign of its planned A350 — billed as a competitor to the 787 — will nearly double the development cost of the plane.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Alan Mulally, speaking in London on the eve of the Farnborough Air Show, declined to say where 787 supply problems were occurring or by how much the plane was exceeding its target weight.
"We're a little over where we want to be at this time on weight, but ahead of where we were on previous programs, so we're really focused on weight-efficient structure right now," he said.
Mulally emphasized that the plane remains on course for its first flight in mid-2007 and entry into service the following year.
"Some partners are a little behind on the schedule but we're working with them on recovery plans," he said, adding that "the systems are coming together really well, the electrical power looks good" and the plane's Rolls-Royce PLC and General Electric Co. engines come "very, very close to their performance goals."
Boeing Co. does not disclose development costs for its aircraft, reported to be about $9 billion.
Company spokesman Charlie Miller said the supply and weight issues alluded to by Mulally would not affect the program's budget.
"At the moment there's nothing that's actually going to increase costs or delay the schedule," Miller said.
With 360 firm orders in the bag two years before the first delivery, Boeing claims the Dreamliner program has already earned the title of most successful jet launch.
The plane's popularity has contributed to the woes at European rival Airbus, which has so far won just 100 orders for its planned A350.
Tom Enders, the co-CEO of Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., confirmed Saturday that the company will announce a long-expected revamp of the A350 at Farnborough, increasing its development cost to about $10 billion from the previously estimated $5.7 billion. Details are to be announced Monday.
Airbus is seeking to reassure customers and investors at Farnborough — one of the biggest events in the aeronautical industry with some 1,500 exhibitors from 35 countries — that it is on the road to recovery.
Last month's announcement of a further seven-month delay for the A380 superjumbo sent EADS shares plunging and led to the departure of Airbus Chief Executive Gustav Humbert and EADS co-CEO Noel Forgeard.
The 555-seat A380 will take part in the daily flying displays at Farnborough, where 300,000 visitors are expected this year, but Airbus executives are likely to face a tougher crowd indoors.
Airbus reported this week that its sales fell by more than half in the first six months of the year to 117 planes, compared to Boeing's 480 orders for the same period.
Outside the Boeing/Airbus competition, Brazilian plane maker Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica SA — better known as Embraer — is scheduled to showcase its 190 airliner, one of its largest models at 180 seats.
On the defense schedule, Boeing's F-15 and F/A-18 fighters will be on display, as will Russia's MiG-29OVT jet, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and Swedish Saab AB's Gripen.
Lockheed Martin Corp. will give an update on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is scheduled to begin test flights in October in Texas and be ready for use by the U.S. Marine Corps in 2012. The company won a $19 billion contract from the Pentagon in 2001.
Raytheon Co. will display Britain's newest spy plane, the Sentinel R1, which adds a sophisticated radar system to a Bombardier Global express business jet.
But the plane is still on schedule.
This doesn't seem like news to me. On a project of this scale, you'd have to expect various vendors to fall behind from time-to-time. Also, final weight is always a concern. Whether the fault lies within Catia or the parts the vendors are delivering, it will get worked out.
If I was the editor of the article, I would have titled it "Everything Normal on 787 Development and Production".
Hardly fodder for the tired old Airbus vs. Boeing routine.
Which is exactly what this is. I remember watching a series about the design and building of the 777 and Boeing had problems with subcontractors and weight issues but in the end, all were solved. Those kinds of issues are totally expected when a new aircraft is underdevelopment.
True, this is no biggie
Business Week tried an article like this a month ago. The headline hinted that there were big troubles just beneath the surface at Boeing, they weren't levelling with Wall Street, yada yada. When you read the article, though, you came away with a handful of nothing.
Not quite a U-2 or SR-71.
787 problems?--thats a lot of problems.
Airplane pingage.
}:-)4
You could have just said"
"Ditto".
LOL!
If the 787 were not overweight at this point in the design process, Boeing would have set the bar too low. The purpose of this project is to leapfrog the current state of the art. The vendors will figure out ways to cut weight.
That explains why the British retired their las Canberra bombers. I wonder what the maximum cruise altitude is on one of those?
If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.
Is it just my observation, or does it seem to others that Boeing is more forthcoming about potential "issues" than are the Airbus folks?
.
Boeing always has been. They know keeping things secret will come back to bite them in the a*s.
Titanium framed seats will help alot.
When Boeing built the Washington facility to buid the 747, it was plauged by delays due to inclement weather.
To solve this, they paved the whole construction area.
These guys will get it done.
Unlike the French.
Remember, this an AP, America hating article.
From The Seattle PI last week. The extra weight might be above target but still within weight offered to customers.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/277220_air12.html
"The 787 is about 2.5 percent above its target weight, which is how much Boeing would like the plane to weigh when it is ready to be delivered to airlines. Much of that extra weight is in the wings and reflects changes that have been made to ensure there will be no serious consequences from a lightning strike.
Boeing said it is not sure it will be able to meet the target weight of the 787, but the plane will be within the weight promised to airline customers."
and the plane's Rolls-Royce PLC and General Electric Co. engines come "very, very close to their performance goals."
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