The main problem of Airbus and Boeing is keeping up to meet its demand. Both Airbus and Boeing had 2,754 orders just last year and will undeniably increase this year — even as new orders slow — and its passenger jets are mostly sold out through 2011 or even later. Both companies have struggled to get new models to the airlines lining up to buy them.

Last Wednesday, Boeing reported that it was going to push back its first flight for the 787 Dreamliner by as much as three months because of supply chain problems and slow progress on the assembly line. Because of this postponement, Boeing could not start delivering the airplane until early 2009, instead of late this year.

Airbus’ A380 superjumbo has been delayed as well while the company redesigned its A350 model to compete against its planned competitor 787. Airbus said it defeated Boeing last year 453 to 441 while it was left behind in new orders by 72 civilian jets.

A record year is a record year and the Airbus order figures look strong, but the longer-term reality may be rather different.
- Doug McVitie, Managing Director of Arran Aerospace

It’s a good business to be in because there are only really two players.
- Sandy Morris, ABN Amro Analyst.

It’s indeed a very close fight between these major airplane manufacturers but then it doesn’t matter anymore who would be the first. The biggest challenge amongst Airbus and Boeing is to meet production deadlines.

A new featherless bird may soon be soaring the skies, and a company based in Wrexham will be helping it. Tritech will be providing components for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner’s engines’ heat management system. The Welsh company, which employs around 200 people, already supplies over 800 parts to Boeing’s rival Airbus.

Tritech’s Commercial Director Alan Dustan said that the deal with Boeing was secured after attending Japan’s JA2004 Airshow with International Business Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government’s international trade arm.

The 787 Dreamliner is Boeing’s first all-new jet since 1995. It is the only big commercial aircraft made mostly of carbon fiber rather than aluminum, and it is much more fuel efficient than its competitors, producing 20% less CO2. It is the most environmentally friendly plane ever built. The Dreamliner’s first test flight is scheduled for August or September, and 600 orders have already been placed for the airliner.

The words “environmentally friendly” were what actually caught my attention in this story. Flying causes a lot of pollution, and it’s wonderful that Boeing is addressing this issue. Hopefully all subsequent aircraft will be built and designed with the environment in mind, and in the near future we can all reduce our carbon footprints significantly, not only in traveling but in everything we do as well.

Beechcraft Musketeer III Model

Heads up as we turn the spotlight on a custom-made model of the Beechcraft Musketeer III. Mr. Dave was greatly impressed with the custom-model he received. He wrote:

Hi! Just wanted to thank you for your exquisite work on the model! It is great and our employer was very impressed. Thanks so much for not only the work but also for the timely delivery!

Mr. Dave, we were very flattered by your testimonial. Here at TMC Pacific Modelworks, we are very much obliged and glad to be of service to customer’s requests and we ensure a timely delivery of your order. If you have a made-to-order replica that you would like to share, please let us know. Who knows, you might be able to see your custom model in this spot next time.

Learn more about Custom Models. Order yours today!

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USS Ronald Reagan CVN-76 Model

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is the ninth and largest Nimitz class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. She was laid down on February 12, 1998; launched on March 4, 2001; christened by Nancy Reagan; and commissioned on July 12, 2003. She is first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the late President Ronald Reagan. Traditionally, very few ships of the Navy were named after a person who was alive at the time of the christening, but recently the number has been increasing. President Reagan was not able to attend the launch or the commissioning due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Ronald Reagan displaces approximately 95,000 tons of water fully loaded, has a top speed of over 30 knots, and can sail for over 20 years before needing to refuel. She is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall at 1,092 feet. The ship carries more than 5,500 sailors and over 80 aircraft.

During her maiden deployment, Ronald Reagan conducted operations in support of the continuing war on terror. From January 4 to July 6, 2006, she was at the western Pacific and Persian Gulf, participating in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and Exercise Valiant Shield 2006. She was awarded the 2006 Battle “E” for West Coast carriers.

January 27 to April 20, 2007 saw Ronald Reagan on a three-month western Pacific deployment to fill in for USS Kitty Hawk which underwent scheduled maintenance in Japan. On December 15, 2007, she answered a distress call from a cruise ship off the coast of Baja California. A teenager with a ruptured appendix was airlifted by an SH-60 helicopter to the carrier, where an emergency appendectomy was performed by Navy medical personnel.