787 Dreamliner to be 2% more effecient..

Boeing uses likewise Catia!

If you read a bit more into what the problems vis-a-vis Airbus A380 have been you will find out that those problems had nothing to do with the fact that CATIA (any version) is a faulty software tool but with the fact that Airbus was using Different versions of CATIA (Catia 4 and Catia 5) at different locations and that those software versions lead to the problems . boeing has come out and said that it and all its suppliers use the Catia5 software for all of their work in addition to other software licenced from elsewhere.

From the BW article (the other one was not in english) There are a few technical details such as –

– The article is 6 months old

–

Test versions of the nose section, for instance, were deemed unacceptable by Boeing

Those were the barrels that got rejected due to quality control , they were over and above the required barrels , Boeing tried a new manufactering technique on the 7th barrel (after having 6 succesfull barrels) and there were some TOOLING errors (with the experimental techique) which showed Air bubbles thereby failing quality control tests , however they went back built 2 more barrels (barrel 8 and barrel 9) and those were succesfull so this issue has been long sorted out .

Software programs designed by a variety of manufacturers are having trouble talking to one another.

After the Airbus CATIA phiasco boeing has come out and said that they dont see this problem as they are exclusivly on CATIA 5 that is incase you watched a couple of the press confrences .

And the overall weight of the airplane is still too high

The weight was declared (in nov 2006 ie 5 months after the publisbhing of the article) to be 2-2.5 tons overweight (but within contractual promises-performance wise) however as of today the CEO is on record of saying that only 500 lbs ( not kilos) remains to be shaved and that the performance increase will be 2% over the contractually obligated ammount.

especially the single biggest part of the 787, the carbon-fiber wing

Read the SPi article regarding the wing , boeing left the extra weight on the wing so that it could meet the Lighting strike Requirments .

here is a BW article as recent as today –

Boeing’s 787 on schedule, demand strong

Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliner remains on schedule for its first test flight next summer and for delivery to airlines in 2008 despite the ongoing challenge to make it lighter, the new head of the company’s commercial airplanes unit said Wednesday.

Scott Carson told an investment conference in New York that Boeing has 435 firm orders for the new jet from 35 customers along with another 21 nonbinding commitments. The continuing demand makes it “the very strongest product launch in the history of this industry,” he maintained.

Boeing officials have said since earlier this fall that they need to trim the 787’s weight significantly from parts scattered throughout the entire plane, in some cases switching from aluminum to titanium, in order to meet its promises for greater fuel efficiency.

Carson, the unit’s sales chief until September when Alan Mulally left to become CEO of Ford Motor Co., said the first six 787s, all test aircraft, will be above weight specifications. All the company’s energies are focused on the seventh and a plan is in place to get the weight off, he said.

Boeing shares rose 79 cents to $91.52 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange, just off last month’s all-time high of $92.05.

Sizzling demand for the 787 coupled with lengthy delays involving Airbus’ planned A380 superjumbo have enabled Boeing to seize momentum and close the gap on Airbus in the commercial airplane market. But Carson, making his first formal presentation to Wall Street, expects the competition to remain intense and said his company must fight complacency with things going so well.

“People say, ‘Well, you’re in a favorite position to Airbus because they’re struggling,'” he said. “I say Airbus emerges from this stronger than they’ve ever been in, and we better be ready for it.”

Asked when the largest U.S. carriers are likely to order new planes again, Carson said he expects UAL Corp.’s United Airlines, AMR Corp.’s American Airlines and Delta Air Lines Inc. to be ready in late 2007 or 2008.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8LREPBG5.htm

http://www.handelsblatt.com/news/Default.aspx?_p=200038&_t=ft&_b=1091769
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_25/b3989049.htm
http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRHeft/FRHeft06/FRH0612/FR0612b.htm
Boeing uses likewise Catia!;)

Actually its perfectly logical , When boeing talked of being 2-2.5 tons overweight (and this was last month at their financial report for the 3rd quarteR) they claimed that despite of the added weight the aircraft was poised to meet its contractual obligations which seemed to suggest that the 2-2.5 tons were well within the SAFETY MARGINS which boeing kept over and above the MEW and promised to the airlines . Now that boeing claims (through their BCA CEO) that an overwhelming majority of that weight has been cut ( only 500 pounds remains) it will surely result in better fuel burn and other performance gains (Range , range/payload etc etc) .

Right enough 🙂

I’m well aware how far they are. What I meant by “early” was that its not even in the air yet and they’re publishing improved efficiency

Actually its perfectly logical , When boeing talked of being 2-2.5 tons overweight (and this was last month at their financial report for the 3rd quarteR) they claimed that despite of the added weight the aircraft was poised to meet its contractual obligations which seemed to suggest that the 2-2.5 tons were well within the SAFETY MARGINS which boeing kept over and above the MEW and promised to the airlines . Now that boeing claims (through their BCA CEO) that an overwhelming majority of that weight has been cut ( only 500 pounds remains) it will surely result in better fuel burn and other performance gains (Range , range/payload etc etc) .

Actually they are quite farther into the process then anyone of us might think , One of the main fues. barrels is going to be completed and shiped out on the 28th of this month and will be in SC by the 1st of jan , the work is under way on every other major assembly section , the computer model detailing the assembly process is under way and will shortly be up and running , boeing has invested big in introducing measures and refinments to cut down weight (including refinements which have nothing to do with reducing weight but add eff. like making the wing more effeceint for example) etc and the confidence most likely stems from those measures aswell as the fact that boeing almost inherently underplays performance of new jets and then turns around and betters the promised targets.

Another PLUS comming out from CARSON/BOEING is that the weight or rather the overweight issue is on track of being resolved and that the Aircraft remains 500 pounds overweight (MEW) , much less then 2-2.5 tons overweight that it was in Nov. when boeing gave their 3rd quarter earning reports and talked of the 787 challenges .

Source – WSJ subscription article – http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20061206-708505.html

Oh, I’m well aware how far they are. What I meant by “early” was that its not even in the air yet and they’re publishing improved efficiency. Boeing being the conservative bunch they are would need to be pretty darn certain about it if they’re telling the world.

Boeing must be fairly confident if they’re predicting an increased efficiency this early on.

Actually they are quite farther into the process then anyone of us might think , One of the main fues. barrels is going to be completed and shiped out on the 28th of this month and will be in SC by the 1st of jan , the work is under way on every other major assembly section , the computer model detailing the assembly process is under way and will shortly be up and running , boeing has invested big in introducing measures and refinments to cut down weight (including refinements which have nothing to do with reducing weight but add eff. like making the wing more effeceint for example) etc and the confidence most likely stems from those measures aswell as the fact that boeing almost inherently underplays performance of new jets and then turns around and betters the promised targets.

Another PLUS comming out from CARSON/BOEING is that the weight or rather the overweight issue is on track of being resolved and that the Aircraft remains 500 pounds overweight (MEW) , much less then 2-2.5 tons overweight that it was in Nov. when boeing gave their 3rd quarter earning reports and talked of the 787 challenges .

Speaking on a webcast at the Credit Suisse Aerospace and Defense Conference, Carson said Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner is on track to begin test flights next summer. The aircraft is still about 500 pounds too heavy, he said, with excess weight distributed throughout the aircraft. Carson said the fact that the 787 is made of new, lightweight composite material, rather than aluminum, will make it easier for engineers to reduce the total weight of the aircraft.

Source – WSJ subscription article – http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20061206-708505.html

Boeing must be fairly confident if they’re predicting an increased efficiency this early on.