[phantomworker]

Composites are not new in commercial aviation, he said. And although the safety team's conclusion was "absolutely true at the time" it was written, he said, by the end of the testing and analysis now in progress, the 787 will meet strict Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) requirements.

Plus

... the safety systems combined will assure the 787 exceeds the one-in-a-billion probability target.

I think there is a lot to be optimistic about! These are all new state of the art composites in a super efficient new airplane model. The 747 was once just a glint in Bill Boeing's eye as well. (Was he still alive when the 747 was designed?)

[COEXERJ145]

William Boeing died shortly after the 367-80 was rolled out.