Video: 787 Dreamliner Finally Gets Dressed For The Big Dance

 A 787 is heading to Japan in early July to begin service testing with ANA. These non passenger trials with just one aircraft on actual ANA routes will test the readiness of the design, and the support systems and operations, to verify that the Dreamliner is ready to smoothly enter revenue-generating service. The actual first delivery of a fully service-ready aircraft is now projected for the third quarter of 2011, over 3 years behind the original schedule.

 And while a delay of that length is pretty sad, I'm inclined to believe that the global economic downturn has had an impact on it being so far behind the original goal of first deliveries in May of 2008. Tho it would also seem that both Airbus and Boeing have suffered from a bad case of airframer pride and egos on the verge of flutter in these last two large-scale commercial aircraft projects.

 I'm quick to forgive them both, and I'm getting really excited for the 787 to be making money and pleasing passengers. Dream. On.

Boeing 787 test aircraft ZA002 in launch customer ANA livery  (photo: Boeing)