According to Boeing, composite construction, combined with efficiency-enhancing raked wing tips, enables the aircraft to achieve a maximum cruise speed of up to Mach 0.85 with less fuel consumption. The company adds that the single-piece composite barrel construction “effectively eliminates all longitudinal skin splices for reducing weight and maintenance costs. It also avoids fuselage lap joints, doublers and skin overlap, resulting in lesser maintenance inspections.”
The Boeing 787-10 will be powered by either Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 or GE Aviation GEnx-1B engines. GEnx engines include high-pressure compressors and twin-annular pre-swirl combustors, as well as lightweight and durable composite materials.
After completing assembly, the 787-10 will have its first flight in 2017 and first delivery in 2018.
