The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a family of long-range, mid-size, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliners that can carry 242–330 passengers in two classes. The airliner features a high degree of technological innovation in design concepts, construction materials and control systems. It is the world’s first major commercial airliner to have a fuselage, wings and tail made from composite materials. The airliner makes extensive use of electrical systems in place of many pneumatic components. It has an advanced fly-by-wire control system which automatically optimises the shape of the wing resulting in improved lift and reduced fuel consumption, and new technologies are used for the flight deck instrumentation. The aircraft is powered by next-generation engines: General Electric GEnx 1B or the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000. Three variants have been built: the initial 787-8, a stretched 787 9 variant and the largest variant, the 787-10. The 787 first entered service with ANA on 26 October 2011. It is now operated worldwide by over seventy airlines including major flag carriers, low-cost long-haul operators and leisure airlines.

Nigel Richardson describes the evolution, design and development of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with high-quality illustrations and technical information.