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| Boeing partner Kawasaki Heavy Industries began installing the circular frames into the midforward section of the 787-10 fuselage on March 14. Photo: Boeing |
[Avionics Today 03-15-2016] Major assembly of the first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner is underway. Boeing partner Kawasaki Heavy Industries began installing the circular frames into the mid-forward section of the fuselage on March 14, two weeks ahead of schedule.
“We are taking all the right steps to ensure we integrate the 787-10 into the production system smoothly,” said Ken Sanger, vice president of 787 airplane development at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
As a straightforward stretch of the 787-9, which entered service in 2014, Boeing designed the 787-10 with the aim to up efficiency while maximizing commonality with its prior model iteration. Ninety-five percent of the design and build of the 787-10 and 787-9 will be identical, reducing complexity, cost and risk across the production system while providing operational benefits.
The 787-10 will undergo final assembly at Boeing South Carolina in North Charleston. To date, the 787-10 has 153 orders from nine leading customers, accounting for 13 percent of all 787 orders. Boeing will begin deliveries 2018.