New Boeing 787 Dreamliner! What a way to fly

Wow...how coincidental.  I just finished a report on the 787 for physics class yesterday!  It's a remarkable development in aerospace technology along with the 777, 747-400ER, and the Blended Wing Stratoliner concept.  It's very luxurious of course, hence the "dreamliner" name.

I'm an avionics technician for the Air Force and a flight enthusiast as I've mentioned before, so I'm really into anything regarding aerospace technology.  It's remarkable how much faster new technology is introduced in the commercial sector.  The military isn't in the business of making money (they're in the business of spending yours) so new developments are slow to be introduced.  We're still working with 1970's avionics on half the jets, so most commercial airliners are leeps and bounds ahead.  The newer computers are 10 times smaller and 100s of times more integrated.  They're more reliable and only require servicing every 5000 flight hours!  It's absolutely amazing how far aviation has come since the "space age".

The same could be said for most of the technolgy now utilized in the commercial airlines.  Engines are 1000s of times more efficient and more powerful than ever before.  Fuel efficiency will become ever more important as our conventional fuel reserves are increasingly depleted.   I wouldn't be surprised if we see low RAM jet technolgy introduced into airline engines.  They only require fuel to take off and reach cruising speed, then internal air pressure creates natural air combustion and the engine can be worked without the use of any fuel...really cool stuff.

The cross between computers and composites is really something too!  The 787 is really light compared to some other jets of equal size.  I had totally overlooked the windows and lighting in my report, so thanks for the additional information.  Those touch screen windows are phenominal!  Computers have become so small and light that they can be intoduced just about anywhere nowadays.

Tina, this was a fantastic and timely segment.  Thank you very much.  I know you don't particularly like commercial flight, so how do you feel about the Dreamliner?