With fuel costs at an all-time high, Boeing's
787 Dreamliner, which will go into production next year, will be
taking off at just the right time. Thanks to advanced engines and a body
that's 50% lightweight carbon-fiber composite, the 787 uses 20% less
fuel than similar-size planes yet has the range of much larger jets. It
also promises greater passenger comforts. Cabin pressure will be closer
to sea level, easing pressure buildup in the sinuses and ears. Humidity
will be set at 15% to 20%, rather than around 5%. And instead of
pulldown shades, the windows will have "electrochromatic" controls that
change the tint of the pane from clear to opaque. "Passengers will
notice a difference in the way they feel at the end of a 787 flight,"
says Walt Gillette, Boeing's vice president of airplane development.
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