"Speed and distance capabilities are fundamental to the value the 787 brings to the market," vice-president and general manager of the 787 programme, Scott Fancher, said.
"These records are a great way to demonstrate that this airplane is the game-changer we have promised."
The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is the first airplane to provide both long distance capabilities with mid-size capacity (210-250 passengers in a three-class seating), allowing airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by the traveling public.
The airplane is 20 per cent more fuel efficient than similarly sized airplanes, said Boeing in a statement today.
The sixth 787 – ZA006 – departed Boeing Field in Seattle on Dec. 6, 2011 and completed an around-the-world trip on Dec. 8 that led to two different world records. The 787 now holds the record for the longest flight and the fastest speed around the world for its weight class. Six pilots shared duties during the two days of flying. The route took the airplane from Seattle to Dhaka and back to Seattle.Pic: Courtesy of Boeing
The sixth 787, ZA006, powered by General Electric GEnx engines, departed from Boeing Field in Seattle at 11.02am on Dec 6 and set the distance record for its class (440,000-550,000 lbs) with a 10,710nmi (19,835km) flight to Dhaka, Bangladesh, with credit for 10,337nmi (19,144km).
This record had previously been held by the Airbus A330 based on a 9,127nmi (16,903km) flight in 2002.
Following an approximately two-hour stop for refueling in Dhaka, the airplane returned to Seattle on a 9,734nmi (18,027km) flight.
The airplane landed at 5.29am on Dec 8, setting a new record for speed around the world (eastbound), with a total trip time of 42 hours and 27 minutes.
There was no previous around-the-world speed record for this weight class.
The 787 carried six pilots, an observer for the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), and operations and other Boeing employees -- 13 people in total.
Flight routing on the first segment of the journey took the airplane from Seattle across the US to Nantucket. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the airplane entered European air space at Santiago, Spain, and proceeded down the Mediterranean, across Egypt to Luxor, across the Middle East and over India to Bangladesh.
On the second segment, the Dreamliner flew over Singapore, the Philippines and Guam before entering US airspace over Honolulu and returning to Seattle.
Boeing said it holds world records for longest distance flights in five weight classes with records set by the KC-135, 767-200ER (extended range), 777-200 and 777-200LR (longer range).
The 777-200 also holds the speed record for its weight class.
This record had previously been held by the Airbus A330 based on a 9,127nmi (16,903km) flight in 2002.
Following an approximately two-hour stop for refueling in Dhaka, the airplane returned to Seattle on a 9,734nmi (18,027km) flight.
The airplane landed at 5.29am on Dec 8, setting a new record for speed around the world (eastbound), with a total trip time of 42 hours and 27 minutes.
There was no previous around-the-world speed record for this weight class.
The 787 carried six pilots, an observer for the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), and operations and other Boeing employees -- 13 people in total.
Flight routing on the first segment of the journey took the airplane from Seattle across the US to Nantucket. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the airplane entered European air space at Santiago, Spain, and proceeded down the Mediterranean, across Egypt to Luxor, across the Middle East and over India to Bangladesh.
On the second segment, the Dreamliner flew over Singapore, the Philippines and Guam before entering US airspace over Honolulu and returning to Seattle.
Boeing said it holds world records for longest distance flights in five weight classes with records set by the KC-135, 767-200ER (extended range), 777-200 and 777-200LR (longer range).
The 777-200 also holds the speed record for its weight class.
Source: Bernama
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