Boeing says its 787-8 Dreamliner has set speed and distance records for its weight class during an around-the-world flight this week.
The sixth 787, GEnx powered ZA006, departed Boeing Field in Seattle at 11:02 am on December 6 and flew eastbound to Dhaka, Bangladesh, a 19,144 km flight that broke the Airbus A330’s previous distance record of 16,903km. After a two hour stop, the 787 continued eastbound to Seattle, landing at 5:49 am on December 8 and setting an around the world speed record of 42 hours and 27 minutes, though there had been no previous record for this weight class.
The flight carried a total of 13 people – six pilots, an observer for the National Aeronautic Association and other Boeing crew.
“Speed and distance capabilities are fundamental to the value the 787 brings to the market,” Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program, said. “These records are a great way to demonstrate that this airplane is the game-changer we have promised.”
