By David Talbot

A Composite Commercial Jet Takes Wing

Boeing's much delayed 787 provides lessons on the limits of outsourcing. But it is also a preview of the future of air travel.

In 2006, the first 787 Dreamliner demonstration wing box was ready to be tested at Boeing’s developmental center in Seattle. Boeing would use the wing box to demonstrate the structural integrity of the design, gather data for certification, and validate the repair methods developed specifically for the materials being used on the 787. Problems would later emerge in these structures.

Credit: Boeing

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