The 787 Dreamliner is the first major commercial airplane to have a composite fuselage, composite wings, and use composites in most other airframe components. A 2007 report from Toray notes that each 787 contains approximately 77,000 pounds of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), made with 23 tons of carbon fiber.
According to ACMA’s CompositesLab, the Dreamliner is an example of the aerospace industry’s transition from aluminum to greater use of composite materials. By using composites to manufacture 50 percent of the 787’s airframe, Boeing takes 20 percent of the weight off the aircraft compared to conventional aluminum designs. The remainder of the plane is constructed primarily of a combination of aluminum, steel and titanium.
