Assembly of first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner gets underway

MAJOR assembly of the first Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner is underway with the airline manufacturer's partner Kawasaki Heavy Industries beginning to install the circular frames into the midforward section of the fuselage on March 14, two weeks ahead of schedule.

"Beginning major assembly early underscores the commitment, discipline and performance of the entire Boeing and partner team worldwide," said Boeing vice president Ken Sange.

"We are taking all the right steps to ensure we integrate the 787-10 into the production system smoothly," he said.

As a straightforward stretch of the 787-9, which entered service in 2014, Boeing designed the 787-10 for both superior efficiency and maximum commonality, the company said.

Ninety-five per cent of the design and build of the 787-10 and 787-9 will be identical, reducing complexity, cost and risk across the entire production system while providing operational benefits to customers, Boeing said.

The 787-10, which will undergo final assembly at Boeing South Carolina in North Charleston, will set a new benchmark in efficiency when deliveries begin in 2018. To date, the 787-10 has won 153 orders from nine leading customers around the world, accounting for 13 per cent of all 787 orders.