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Those with attention spans longer than a gnat will well remember the triumphant announcement of the Dreamliner was it a century ago? Well the last century anyway. Those who do may well have thought there was a little hubris in it. Now even Boeing must have the message. Did someone break some mirrors or have they not paid enough attention to Feng Shui?
In the words of the Australian sage tell em they’r dreaming. And maybe ask what they were smoking.

Boeing shares fell 9% after the company admitted tests show signs of stress in the aircraft body and the the maiden flight of its Dreamliner aircraft was delayed yet again today after the discovery.

The first airborne test of the 787 had been planned for next week and Boeing had been insisting everything was on schedule as recently as last week’s Paris Air Show.

But the company said today it had identified an area on the side of the aircraft where the new model had shown signs of stress in a static test. It now has to reinforce the aircraft to make it ready for its first flight and delivery, the schedule for which will not be available for several weeks.

Boeing shares dropped 9% in New York after the company warned investors it would update its financial guidance to reflect yesterday’s setback when it reports second-quarter figures next month.

The Dreamliner is Boeing’s first new aircraft since the 777, introduced more than a decade ago. Built with plastic composites and designed to use 20% less fuel than similar sized planes, the aircraft will come in three sizes to carry between 210 and 330 passengers.

It has attracted 865 orders and was supposed to enter commercial service in the first quarter of next year – already two years behind schedule.

Scott Carson, chief executive of Boeing’s commercial operation, said the problem was not connected with the choice of materials or the assembly and installation work. Experts had already identified several potential solutions, he said.

Scott Fancher, general manager of the 787 programme, said the problem area, identified in around 36 locations, was very small.

“We’re talking about a one or two square inch area along the side of the body, the join between the wing and the side of the body,” he said. “It’s limited to the upper portion where the wing and the upper body join. There are about 18 locations on either side of the aircraft … It’s not a problem that extends under the wings or down into the aircraft, it’s a very limited area that needs structural reinforcement. “There are a handful of parts in each location, each one you could literally hold in your hand, they’re about the size of your hand or smaller.”

Its easy to throw stones and be smart and one wishes them well. It will no doubt be sorted out and become a great step forward but there are many lessons to be learnt here and we may not be out of the woods yet.
Content from http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jun/23/boeing-dreamliner-delay