AviationGeeks.com

Boeing's 787 test fleet has fanned out from its home base in Seattle, Washington as the type pushes through certification toward its revised mid-first quarter 2011 first delivery to All Nippon Airways.

Airbus' gross aircraft sales have topped the 300 mark, two-thirds of the way through the year, with the net figure reaching 250 for the first eight months of 2010.

While concerns about availability of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines dog its 787 programme, Boeing continues to wrestle with workmanship issues on the aircraft's Alenia-built horizontal stabiliser.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes Programs VP and General Manager Pat Shanahan added oversight of 747-8 freighter and intercontinental transports to his role as general manager of all aircraft production yesterday.

The lack of availability of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines for Airplane Nine in the 787 programme, Boeing's third production aircraft and the first of the commercial fleet scheduled to fly, is main driver for the programme's latest delay.

Russian researchers have released details of a proposed medium-haul widebody aircraft design which has been undergoing structural studies at the Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute.

Boeing 787 launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) now aims to operate its first commercial flight with the 787-8 in March, following Boeing's announcement today of a fresh delay to the programme.