Main VS 787 Thread

I've just got myself a G on the first flight :-)

It looks like there are still two G's left.

Congratulations! If there are a few of us, we should most certainly arrange a meet at the Clubhouse.

Definitely!

Couldn't see any reference to it above.....first picture of G-VNEW:

http://paineairport.com/kpae10557.htm

http://paineairport.com/kpae10557.htm

First pics for you all

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/th ... e/787.html More Pictures and delivery dates for the first 10 787-9s. Destinations for the first 10 include; JFK, Newark, Boston, Washington, Delhi, Narita, Shanghai, Cape Town

Interestingly they give a number of 21 aircraft to be delivered in four years. They must have exercised some of their 8 options which I hadnt seen. I believe that VNEW will be rolled out later today.

Interestingly they give a number of 21 aircraft to be delivered in four years. They must have exercised some of their 8 options which I hadnt seen. I believe that VNEW will be rolled out later today.

My sources have confirmed some of the options have been exercised. Also, I believe VS will exercise them all going forwards.

anyone noticed the seat plan which is shown inside our 787's tab

talks of a wander wall in PE but can't see it on the plan unless it is the blank space at the front of PE and the galley / kitchen but the eco seat look interesting with the recaro seat and a new design pe seat also am interested to see this may have to grab a flight on one of the new routes

Interestingly they give a number of 21 aircraft to be delivered in four years. They must have exercised some of their 8 options which I hadnt seen. I believe that VNEW will be rolled out later today.

My sources have confirmed some of the options have been exercised. Also, I believe VS will exercise them all going forwards.

This was established a while ago. VS are retiring the 5 LHR 747's by the end of 2016 so this explains the uplift of 5 to replace them. The original 16 replace the remaining 340's one for one.

New picture of G-VNEW taken yesterday, http://www.airteamimages.com/boeing-787 ... 04588.html

Looks like there is still a G available for the 28th....

Is that plane really going to be ready for a commercial flight by 28th October? It hasn't even got any engines yet! Then all the acceptance/proving tests that will be required. December at best I reckon. Am I being too pessimistic?

[Darren Wheeler]

Is that plane really going to be ready for a commercial flight by 28th October? It hasn't even got any engines yet! Then all the acceptance/proving tests that will be required. December at best I reckon. Am I being too pessimistic?

How long do you think it takes to fit 2 engines?

According to this thread on Airliners.net, G-VNEW is due her Trent engines on Friday the 1st. It seems that once final finishing is done she'll undergo some 30-days worth of tests before being delivered to VS. So I'd guess she'll be handed over early to mid September and go final fitting out (loading IFE, etc.) before commencing crew familiarisation training.

How long do you think it takes to fit 2 engines?

A well trained team used to switching engines with all the right tools to hand could remove an engine and replace it in about 6 hours.

For a new aircraft could do it in less but more likely to have teething issues so say a day each.

The next 787-9 will have the registration G-VAHH, is there a name for this one yet?

Is nobody a little concerned about the reliability of these aircraft and I'm not referring to the batteries / fire problem which seems to gave been sorted. There has just been a thread about the problems Norweigan are having, a two week old Thomson 787 lost an engine mid atlantic this week and BA have had so many teething problems that the crew refer to them as the binliner. With VS having a relatively small fleet the Norwegian problem could easily be repeated.

Virgin won't have similar problems to Norwegian (DU).

Firstly, VS are a long haul airline and have 30 years experience in this field. DU has none and the 787's were a new project for them to expand. This has meant that the LCC mentality that DU brought to the table with:

- zero (or at least minimal) out station staff
- extremely tight turnaround times for long haul aircraft
- outsourced engineering to Boeing via Gold Care and no in-house engineering team
- a very small LH fleet with almost no replacements within the fleet

have all meant that customer service has suffered when there has been a problem, they don't have the bandwidth to sustain long haul ops if something goes wrong which has a complete knock on effect for the time table. It has meant people sleeping on the floor of LAX for two nights, wet leasing of aircraft from other companies, extremely long delays.

At least VS has spare aircraft that can head on out if a plane does go tech away from base, and they have all of the contracts in place to get parts, do engineering etc that I just don't think DU imagined having seeing as they brought Gold Care from Boeing to supposedly offer this service.

DU will improve, and this has been a very fast learning curve but I have every confidence that the issues will not plague VS in a similar manner.

Also VS are starting off with a pretty light schedule of flying.

The first aircraft will only be flying LHR-BOS 6 days a week. It also has about 8 hours on the ground back at base between flights.

Norwegian on the other hand seem to be flying them 7 days a week with very minimal turn times.

Some of their turnaround times are only 1:30 long! Plus see how hard the DU 787 at LGW is working hard every day!

Mon
LAX > LGW 0135 1205
LGW > FLL 1520 0030+1L

Tue
FLL > FLL 0250 1100
LGW > JFK 1555 0005+1

Wed
JFK >LGW 0135 0810
LGW > LAX 1435 0155+1

Thu
LAX > LGW 0330 1400
LGW > JFK 1720 0130+1

Fri
JFK > LGW 0300 0930
LGW >FLL 1520 0030+1

Sat
FLL > LGW 0225 1035
LGW > JFK 1615 0005+1

Sun
JFK > LGW 0135 0810
LGW > LAX 1245 0005+1

G-VNEW has engines!

http://paineairport.com/kpae10594.htm

This might fe of interest. IRS the 787-9 build schedule which constantly updated.

http://www.planespotters.net/Production ... /index.php

Wonder what G-VAHH will be called? 'Dream Girl"?

G-VNEW moves out of the modification centre. I was begining to worry as all the recent 789s seemed stuck in the EMC.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3843/1476 ... 4978_b.jpg

nice :-D

Which day of the week to BOS won't get a 787?
Is it likely to be a 330 on the other day?
Looking for G's for November and would like to try the 787 at least one way.

Which day of the week to BOS won't get a 787?
Is it likely to be a 330 on the other day?
Looking for G's for November and would like to try the 787 at least one way.

By doing a few dummy bookings in nov/dec it shows Fridays being operated by an A330 by as always this isn't set in stone