Dreamliner Kicks Off Tour in China

Promoted as the “first new airplane of the 21st Century”, the Boeing 737 Dreamliner arrived in Beijing on Sunday 4 December to start its scheduled six month tour which will include Ethiopia, Qatar and Kenya. With China being the biggest Boeing customer outside the United States, the aircraft manufacturer will be demonstrating the Dreamliner’s features and benefits to potential and confirmed customers in Beijing, Guangzhou and Haikou between now and 11 December.

Boeing and Lion Air Sign Record-Breaking Deal

As developed countries focus on their economic woes, it has been suggested that so-called emerging economies of the world, such as Africa and Asia, should be targeted by developed countries for the promotion of trade ties. Many see President Barack Obama’s visit to the Asia-Pacific region as being an endorsement of this view, which has further been boosted by the US$21.7 billion order placed with Boeing by Indonesia’s domestic airline, Lion Air – the biggest single order in the history of the renowned aircraft manufacturer.

Flight of the Future at Five Times the Speed of Sound

A recent report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in Britain proposes that by the year 2075 commercial aircraft, called “Scramjets”, will be capable of completing a New York to London flight in less than an hour by flying at five times the speed of sound (4,000mph).

Boeing 737 Aims For Greater Fuel Efficiency

In response to increasing demand from airlines, Boeing has launched an improved version of the popular 737 in which a more fuel efficient engine will be used. The Boeing 737 is cited as the world’s best-selling aircraft for commercial use, and this engine upgrade is one of the measures being taken by Boeing to ensure that it retains its market share.

2011 Vintage Aircraft Weekend

The Historic Flight Foundation’s restoration centre was the host of the 2011 Vintage Aircraft weekend, which was held for the fourth time. The restoration centre is located at the Paine Field, which is situated just outside of Washington. It was a wonderful opportunity for aviation enthusiasts to get to know aircraft of the past, watch them fly and even hear from a number of celebrity guests of honor. It was a weekend for the entire family to enjoy, filled with education and excitement.

Boeing 747-8 Freighter Approved

Great excitement surrounds the news that Boeing is approved to deliver their first Boeing 747-8 Freighter to Cargolux in September, with their latest release having just received its federal certification, allowing Boeing to move forward with this airplane series. This is the fourth model in the widebody 747 range of Boeing, and most definitely the largest of the range that needed to undergo a few changes to set it apart from previous versions, such as the Boeing 747-400.

Testing of New GEnx-1B Boeing 787

There is a huge build up of excitement surrounding the new GEnx-1B Boeing 787 aircraft, as two of the aircraft are almost ready to undergo functionality, reliability and ETOPS evaluations. It is estimated that if all goes well, evaluations will be able to begin in July 2011. General Electric has confirmed that two Boeings, which are nearing the end of their certification tests, have amassed numerous flight hours. ZA005 and ZA006, which are GE-powered aircraft, have been performing better than expected and General Electric have expressed that they are pleased at the progress being made.

Phantom Ray Takes to the Skies

It has been an ongoing project by Boeing, but the success achieved by their test flight was only recently released. The stealthy looking delta winged drone, named the Phantom Ray, is a great advance in aviation technology, and has become the leader in the combat drone industry. Edwards Air Force Base, which is located in the Mojave Desert, was the venue for the test flight that took place on 27 April 2011, and only positive feedback has been received from the flight.

New Boeing Factory in China

Monday, 18 April 2011, was a big day for both China and Boeing, as the plans to construct an addition to their existing factory were unveiled. Aviation Industries Corporation of China, along with Boeing, has entered into a joint venture that will see a new division of the factory in Tianjin produce more composites for the aviation industry. The factory, known as Boeing Tianjin Composites Co, will be able to expand with the $21 million investment Boeing has made, and the factory will be able to run at full production capacity by the year 2013.

NASA Goes Green

The Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate of NASA has funded a large scale project that will search for the solution to producing fixed wing aircraft that are more fuel efficient, are quieter and emit fewer emissions into the air. Four teams have been approached to participate in the project, and each team has been allocated funds to develop their designs and for construction. The prototypes will be tested in laboratories, wind tunnels and computer simulation to establish their viability. It is a massive undertaking, and with each team focused on different projects, the time limitations on the contracts do vary.

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