787 Dreamliner is a record breaker for Boeing

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner has set two new world records for its weight class, allowing for faster and longer non-stop travel on commercial flights.

The Dreamliner is Boeing’s new medium sized wide body jet airliner, capable of carrying between 210-290 passengers depending on its variant, and weighing in at between 200,000kg – 250,000kg. The jet airliner set the new distance record for its weight class last week when it flew eastbound from Seattle, USA to Dhaka in Bangladesh without stopping to refuel. The aircraft was grounded for around two hours for checks and refuelling in Dhaka before embarking on its return flight to the Boeing Field in Seattle.

This new around-the-world record ousts the previous record holder the Airbus A330 from the top spot, with the 787 Dreamliner achieving 19,835km (approximately 12,325 miles) without stopping to refuel. Previously, the Airbus 3300 had set the bar at 16,093km, almost a decade ago in 2002.

The Dreamliner’s new distance record has been attributed to a number of engineering factors, including its lightweight carbon-fibre composite structure, and the replacement of bleed air and hydraulic power sources with electrically powered pumps and compressors. The carbon fibre fuselage is largely responsible for the reduced weight of the aircraft, and is said to increase fuel efficiency by approximately 20 per cent.

Not content with achieving a new world class record with the Dreamliner, Boeing also established a new world record with the fastest around-the-world speed record for the 787’s weight class of aircraft. The Seattle to Dhaka voyage saw the Dreamliner clock in a total trip time of 42 hours 27 minutes.  Although no record had previously existed for the 787 Dreamliner’s weight class, Boeing is confident that a high benchmark has been set for other aircraft manufacturers to aspire to. 

And so it seems that the Boeing 787 could herald a ‘revolution’ in a more fuel-efficient future for air travel, helping to not only reduce flight times and increase flight distances for passengers, but also positively impact the cost to the consumer of long-haul international air travel.