Boeing’s first 787 has big debut

Boeing Co. unveiled its first fully assembled 787 on Sunday to an audience of thousands who packed into its wide-body assembly plant for the plane’s extravagantly orchestrated premiere.

With flight attendants on stage from each airline that has ordered the jet, the giant factory doors opened wide as the plane slowly moved into view to the strains of a song composed specially for the 787, which Boeing calls the Dreamliner.

Boeing has won more than 600 orders from customers eager to hold the jet maker to its promise that the mid-size, long-haul jet will burn less fuel, be cheaper to maintain and offer more passenger comforts than comparable planes flying today.

The 787 -- Boeing’s first all-new jet since airlines started flying the 777 in 1995 -- will be the world’s first large commercial airplane made mostly of carbon-fiber composites, which are lighter, more durable and less prone to corrosion than aluminum.

The first test flight is expected to take place between late August and late September. The plane is set to enter commercial service next May after Japan’s All Nippon Airways receives the first of the 50 it has ordered.

Boeing has won 677 orders for the new plane, selling out delivery positions through 2015, two years after Airbus expects to roll out its competing A350 XWB.

In a rare tip of the hat to the competition, Airbus congratulated Boeing on the 787, whose commercial success has chipped away at the edge the European plane maker once held over its Chicago-based rival.

“Even if tomorrow Airbus will get back to the business of competing vigorously, today is Boeing’s day -- a day to celebrate the 787,” Airbus co-Chief Executive Louis Gallois said in a letter to Boeing Chairman and CEO James McNerney.

The 787 that debuted Sunday will serve as the first of six flight-test airplanes, while two other planes will be used for static and fatigue tests.

Boeing hired former “NBC Nightly News” anchor Tom Brokaw to serve as master of ceremonies for the 787 debut, which was broadcast live on the Internet and on satellite television in nine languages to more than 45 countries. The company set out 15,000 seats for spectators at the 787 factory.