The Boeing 787 is selling big – with hundreds of orders from airlines on the books. American Airlines made big news on Friday with a 12.3 billion dollar order: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2018/04/06/american-airlines-reveals-boeing-787-dreamliner-order-up-12-3-billion/495574002/ Forbes says the airplane is “selling like hotcakes”. https://www.forbes.com/sites/tedreed/2017/01/08/boeing-787-has-sold-like-hotcakes-but-expert-says-demand-could-drop-after-2020/#11b14eaffca0
Boeing has a rich history with its 700 series. The Boeing 707 was the first widely successful passenger jet. Up to that time, England had the early lead in the industry with the Comet. However, problems with the Comet gave Boeing the opening it needed.
Still McDonnell-Douglas and Lockheed provided competition within the United States. For example, the McDonnell-Douglas DC-10 was a very popular aircraft. Boeing purchased McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Meanwhile Lockheed elected to drop out of the commercial passenger industry. While competition within the US has vanished, Boeing still competes with European conglomerate, Airbus: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-singapore-airshow-planemakers/jetmakers-battle-over-niche-where-boeing-plans-new-jet-idUSKBN1FP1R6
Boeing introduced the Boeing 707 in 1957. It was followed by the very successful three engine Boeing 727. Boeing’ most successful jet of all-time is the Boeing 737. This aircraft continues to be in production and is the staple of juggernaut Southwest Airlines. The jet is perfect for multiple short hops in a day of flying.
The 747 introduced the long range, wide body concept. The plane was a favorite of overseas flight from 1970 to 2017. See: https://doctoraviation.com/boeing-747-end-era/
The 757 came long in the mid 1980s, designed to replace the 727. The 767 was also introduced in the mid 1980s and the 777 (or Triple 7) came along in the 1990s.
Now the big star is the 787. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was first used by All Nippon Airways in 2011. It is designed to carry roughly 275 passengers. Its claim to fame is it is the first airliner to be built primarily of composite materials, instead of the classic aluminum. The aircraft has two engines and is fuel efficient.
Boeing delivered 500 787s in its first five years of production, a record for a new aircraft. There are orders for nearly 1,000 planes on the books. The future looks bright for this new Boeing star. The Boeing 787 is selling BIG.
For a 30 second look at the 787 see: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/787/dreamliner/
For a 4 minute version see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCNEB2OlwMg