Boeing Airplanes and the EAA announced today that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner will make an appearance at this year's EAA AirVenture 2011. The brand new airplane will be available for public tours on July 29th. This will be the first time the public will have an opportunity to view the airplane upclose as well as tour the inside of Boeing's newest offering.
The Chairman of EAA and Airventure, Tom Poberezny, stated 'We're proud and excited that Boeing recognizes the significance of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in the global aviation community. This represents two significant firsts, the first time anywhere that aviation enthusiasts can tour the 787 and the first public showcase of the 787 in North America.'
Poberezny went on to state that 'Showcasing innovation, the introduction of new designs, and major industry announcements are key elements that solidify EAA AirVenture Oshkosh as aviation's world showcase. Large or small, AirVenture represents the broad spectrum of aviation like no other event. The appearance of the Boeing 787 is one of many firsts you can expect to see at Oshkosh in 2011.'
The Dreamliner is scheduled to be at AirVenture for only a few hours, arriving on the 29th around 9:30 a.m. and then departing following the days afternoon air show around 6:00 p.m. The airplane will be parked at the ConocoPhillips Plaza for the public tours.
Capt. Mike Carriker, chief pilot of the 787 program and an EAA member stated that 'It’s a great honor to be able to share our airplane with aviation enthusiasts. We’ve made tremendous progress in finishing certification testing on our 787 flight test fleet with Rolls-Royce engines. It gives us a short opportunity to be able to share this airplane with the attendees of EAA AirVenture 2011.' Boeing offered a glimpse of the test flights for the airplane on their corporate blog.
The Dreamliner is considered an 'all-new airplane' that features new technologies that are expected to give airlines improved efficiency and at the same time provide passengers a level of comfort not seen in today's aircraft. The Dreamliner is also the first airplane in the mid-size airliner category capable of long-range flight, giving airlines many new options in planning their routes based on customer demands.
Some of the passenger comforts being offered on the Dreamliner are improved cabin air filtering for cleaner air, higher humidity levels and lower cabin altitude. The increased humidity and lower cabin altitude should help passengers feel more refreshed and less lagged after flying aboard the 787. The Dreamliner also feature larger windows with electrochromatic shades and bigger, redesigned carryon bins as well as LED lighting.
The addition of the Dreamliner to the Airventure lineup adds to the many must-see features and attractions of what is called 'the world's greatest aviation celebration.' The week will also feature the 'Centennial of Naval Aviation' celebration, tributes to aviation legends Burt Rutan and Bob Hoover. REO Speedwagon will also be opening the event with a performance during the opening day concert. Returning this year, after a very positive response last year is the 'Night Air Show and Daher-Socata Fireworks' that will finish off the events on Saturday, July 30.
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