We have just received word that the first 787, has been painted in ANA colors. Here's a toast to the first of what is hopefully many to come.
The importance of this aircraft is actually pretty far reaching. What the aircraft does for ANA, will have a huge impact on the aviation world as a whole, for a myriad of reasons. Whether or not the airliner lives up to its specified, range, fuel burn, and MTOW can make or break a new aircraft, as evidenced by the MD-11. One reason is, a lot of airlines have bet their long-haul futures on the 787. In the US, Continental and Delta have put all their apples in the 787 basket. If the 787 doesn't work out, then their ability to grow internationally in the future will be snapped. Also, small national airlines such as Uzbekistan Airways need the 787's economics to fly long-haul routes profitably. Secondly, Boeing can't have the 787 hemorrhaging orders, because it has invested a significant amount of money, and needs the 787 to garner a profit. Not to mention, it wants to develop future wide bodies based of the 787 platform…
The following picture is from airliners.net by Jeremy Lindgren / New England Airports,
And this one's from airlinersgallery.wordpress.com/…/
