Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its first flight in the USA with passengers

United Airlines' Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off from Houston on Sunday and landed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. United Airlines is the first U.S. airline to fly an airplane with a fuselage and wing made of lightweight and durable composite material.

The production of the wide-body airplane was delayed for three years due to production problems at Boeing Co. Nevertheless, the designers accomplished their task - fuel consumption, compared to airplanes of the same class, decreased by 20%, the airliner became more comfortable and less expensive to maintain.

United Airlines plans to use the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on daily nonstop flights to Japan (starting Jan. 3), and to Shanghai (starting March 30).

Although the airplane is designed for 290 passengers, the company chose a cabin configuration with 219 seats.
United Airlines CEO Jeff Smisek said the plane features blackout windows and LED lighting that will change during different phases of the flight.

At the moment, there is only one drawback - there is no Wi-Fi. Jeff Smisek told reporters that Boeing is already working with federal aviation authorities to certify broadband-enabled communications equipment on composite airplanes, but the process could take until 2014.

Prior to Sunday's flight from Houston to Chicago, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its first flight in October 2011. Several of the airplanes were purchased by All Nippon Airways, a U.S. airline. But shortly after the first airplanes were delivered, All Nippon reported landing gear problems. And in March, Boeing suspended delivery of the airplanes, due to delamination of composite materials. In July, the 787 was blamed by the Greens for spoiling grass on the airfield from the engines' open flames.