A tour inside Boeing’s new 787

Boeing Co. has snagged hundreds of orders for its new 787 with a sales pitch that leans heavily on the light, sturdy carbon-fiber composites replacing most of the aluminum on the plane, meaning lower fuel and maintenance costs.

But Boeing says it’s designed everything inside the plane, from air filters and electric generators to high-tech cabin lighting and in-flight-entertainment systems, with an eye toward cost cutting and comfort.

The 787 will have much less wiring than the comparably sized 767 -- about 61 miles’ worth compared with 91.

That makes it cheaper and easier for airlines to repair, and for passengers it means bigger overhead bins and more elbow room.

In-flight entertainment systems will be lighter and feature seat-back monitors and handsets with tiny keyboards on the back so that someday -- engineers aren’t yet sure when -- they can be used for instant messaging.

The plane will burn fuel more efficiently and sap less energy from its engines, because its systems will be powered almost entirely by high-voltage electric generators, rather than the typical system that runs on air drawn through the engines.

Flight-control electronics, which run all the systems that guide the airplane in flight, are smaller than they’ve ever been before, less than a quarter the size of those on the 777, Boeing’s last all-new plane, which began flying commercially in 1995.

Software is designed to help the plane respond quickly to the vertical gusts that most often trigger motion sickness.

The window shades are gone, replaced by controls that can darken the glass to a passenger’s preference, and the windows themselves are bigger.

Engineers working on individual systems also worked in tandem with engineers involved in other parts of the aircraft, said Mike Sinnett, director of systems for the 787.

“It’s unlike anything we’ve ever done before, and as a result, I think we’ve hit the sweet spot in so many more areas than we would have otherwise,” Sinnett said.

The 787 is scheduled to enter commercial service next May.