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Dreamliner Makes First Time Landing At Reagan National Airport By Steve Hall |
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May 8, 2012 - Boeing's 787 Dreamliner landed at Ronald Reagan National Airport on Monday, making Washington, DC the latest destination on its global Dream Tour.
For the next four days, guests invited by Boeing will
see the 787 outfitted with the Dreamliner's many
innovative cabin features including a welcoming
entryway, dramatically larger dimmable widows, bigger
bins and dynamic LED lighting.
Just a couple of weeks ago, we all marveled as the space
shuttle Discovery circled the Washington, DC, region
before arriving at the National Air and Space Museum's
Udvar-Hazy Center. There, the shuttle will be celebrated
by millions of visitors for the technological milestones
it set and for the important service it provided. |
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On Monday, the DC area was visited by another winged celebrity,
the 787 Dreamliner, which landed for the first time at Reagan
National Airport. And, just as the Discovery once did, the
Dreamliner 787 ushers in the future, having already won the
Collier Trophy awarded by the National Aeronautic Association in
recognition of the greatest achievement in Aeronautics or
Astronautics in America.
The 787 is a medium-size, commercial airplane and is the world's
first major airliner to use composite materials for most of its
construction. That construction--plus advanced engine
technology--means the Dreamliner will be 20 percent more
fuel-efficient than existing aircraft of comparable size and
service.
It will also produce less noise and incorporate many
capabilities of the Federal Aviation Administration's NextGen
air transportation system. As FAA Administrator Michael Huerta
said, "The Dreamliner is an incredible technological achievement
one that sets a new standard for innovation on many levels."
But what really makes the 787 so special is what it says about
America. This plane reflects decades of creativity, innovation
and hard work. It?s a tribute to our technical know-how. Most of
all, it continues our tradition of dreaming big dreams and
building great things.
Wilbur Wright once said that it may be possible to fly without
motors, but not without knowledge and skill. The 787 is proof
that America still has the knowledge and skill that put the
first plane in the sky near Kitty Hawk and planted the Stars and
Stripes on the moon. |