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The Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the tarmac at Auckland International Airport - Source: ONE News
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner test aircraft - Source: slipstream.co.nz/airnz
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner lands at Auckland International Airport - Source: slipstream.co.nz/airnz -
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It cut an impressive sight in the sky over Auckland and aviation enthusiasts have turned out in force to watch Boeing's plane of the future touch down for the first time.
The new Boeing 787-8 test Dreamliner landed just on 10am after flying non-stop from Seattle.
Air New Zealand is hosting the plane at its engineering base at Auckland International Airport for two days.
A large number of ground crew surrounded the plane when it came to a stop on the tarmac.
Plane-spotters also parked up around Air New Zealand's engineering base to get a glimpse of the latest aviation technology.
"This really is the benchmark of commercial aviation - now the newest, most modern commercial aircraft for the 21st century," said aviation enthusiast Peter Clark.
The 787 has an environmental advantage over any other jet its size, the fuselage is made of carbon composite which is lighter than traditional aluminium, burning 20% less fuel than 747s and 767s it will replace, while being able to carry 50% more cargo.
The 787 has an environmental advantage over any other jet its size, as it uses 20% less fuel while being able to carry 50% more cargo.
"I don't think this is going to make air travel cheaper. But I think what it's going to do is allow prices to stay where they are, even though the cost of fuel, the cost of insuring the aircraft, landing fees, all the ancillary fees have gone up," said Clark.
General Manager for the 787 programme at Boeing, Scott Fancher, said spectators will see how the Dreamliner looks different from other aircraft.
"While the interior is filled with test equipment and therefore far from showroom standard, the exterior is not only aerodynamically efficient but extremely beautiful," Fancher said."
Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the larger 787-9 variant, which has greater seating capacity than the 787-8 plane that arrived today.
"This plane will allow us to fly point to point, to places deeper within Asia, deeper within North America, and ultimately South America as well," said Christopher Luxon from Air New Zealand.
The airline company will fly them long-haul, made more comfortable thanks to the plane's carbon composite make-up.
"Because it doesn't fatigue or corrode, like traditional metallic structure, we can do more with it. We can carry a lower cabin altitude, higher cabin pressure, more humidity on the aeroplane," said engineer Mike Sinett.
This means travellers will experience less dehydration and jet lag.
"I'm actually feeling really good after 13 hours and 50 minutes from Seattle, where I'd probably be feeling a little less good if I'd done that in a normal aeroplane," said chief pilot David Morgan, Air New Zealand.
Air New Zealand is hoping to have the "Dash nine" 787-9 version in service sometime during 2014.
"It's been difficult to be honest, because we're having to make do with our fleet and re-purpose it in ways we didn't really want to, but at the end of the day we fundamentally believe this is a game-changing aeroplane for us," said Luxon.
Jetstar jumps ahead
Competing airline Jetstar has announced it will have a Dreamliner
in service in 2013, for its Auckland-Singapore route.
Group CEO Bruce Buchanan said Jetstar would be the first airline based in Australasia, and the first low cost carrier in the world, to operate the Boeing 787.
People wishing to witness the arrival of the Boeing 787 today can stream the footage on slipstream.co.nz/airnz from approximately 9.45am.
