Two years behind schedule, but better late than never, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner should have its first test flight today:

Boeing Dreamliner ready for maiden flight

Why should you care? This is perhaps the most advanced commercial aircraft ever created, and points toward the next generation of aircraft that are made almost completely out of carbon fiber rather than aluminum. Boeing is hoping for 20% better fuel efficiency and much more durable planes, since carbon fiber should hold up better than aluminum over time.

This video shows the test plane taxiing last week in preparation for the test flight:

This video series explains what makes the 787 dreamliner so unique:

Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 – Part 5

Part three talks about things like cabin pressure, air purification, turbulence damping, etc. Part 4 talks about cockpit and engines. Part 5 talks about the use of composites.

One of the biggest changes if the cruise altitude at 43,000 feet – about 2 miles higher than normal jets. Almost all turbulence is eliminated at this altitude:

Here you can see a part of the composite fuselage being made and baked:

In the not-too-distant future, all planes will be made this way because of the inherent advantages of carbon fiber.

Update – the first flight was successful:

Boeing Dreamliner completes first flight

Boeing Co completed the long-delayed first test flight of its new 787 Dreamliner on Tuesday, heralding a new era of plastics-based aircraft that promise to save airlines millions of dollars in fuel costs.