Board a Dreamliner: is it bringing back the magic of flying?

Boeing Co. unveiled its first 787 Dreamliner that will be delivered to All Nippon Airways, reported Reuters, but what features will entrance fliers as more of the planes start to appear worldwide?

"The plane is being certified to the highest FAA standards," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager, 787 program. "But the real focus of the traveling public will likely be on customer satisfaction and the elegance of the flight."

Boeing’s Blake Emery says the company designed the 787 with a welcoming feeling of “openness and calm” in an effort to re-connect with the often-disgruntled flying public.

“We wanted to bring back the magic of flying,’’ said Emery, Boeing’s director of differentiation strategy. “We literally wanted people to walk in and say “wow.’”

The interior of the first aircraft includes 264 seats — 12 business and 252 economy. Passenger comfort features will include:

• Personal television sets
• Roomier seats
• An automatic toilet with a wash function
• More storage
• An arched entry way with a beverage bar
• Dimmable windows
• Larger lavatories

 Karen West, an msnbc.com contributor, rode a simulator test flight that encountered turbulence over Puget Sound at 30,000 feet.

“The airplane suddenly drops about six feet, taking my white knuckles and stomach with it,” she wrote. But engineers promised her a second flight would be much smoother. And it was  —   thanks to some Boeing ingenuity at overcoming turbulence.

Boeing took a “holistic approach’’ and included features that would appeal to the flying public. For example, Boeing technology helps curtail sudden drops in altitude.

 “The Dreamliner is a revolutionary aircraft and will go a long way in addressing some passenger comfort issues,’’ said Nancy McKinley, director of consumer affairs for the International Airline Passengers Association.

From the outside, the twin-engine 787 looks similar to other airplanes. But passengers stepping inside find arched ceilings that allow them to store luggage without bumping their heads.

Studies showed that passengers felt more comfortable with a clear view of the horizon, so Boeing designed the 787 with bigger windows and replaced the shades with dimming switches that can darken the windows.

And for passengers who dislike being awakened by harsh, bright lights after a trans-Atlantic flight, the 787 has “mood lighting” features that can simulate sunrises and vivid blue sky scenes.

The cabin air will feel less dry because of higher humidity settings. Air inside will also be cleaner to breathe thanks to a sophisticated air purification system  —  a first for Boeing.

Boeing increased the humidity and added new filtration technologies. By doing that, Boeing says the number of passengers experiencing symptoms associated with dryness will be reduced by 50 percent.

Aviation experts expect Boeing to apply the technology to future airplanes.

Boeing, the world's second-largest plane maker after Airbus EADS, is about three years behind schedule delivering the first 787 largely because of snags in the unusually complex global supply chain.

Boeing has taken 827 orders for the Dreamliner, a record number for a Boeing plane still in development. ANA has ordered 55 Dreamliners. The planes list for about US$200 million.

Boeing is developing two versions of the Dreamliner. The first version, the 787-8, will carry 210 to 250 passengers on routes of 7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles. A second version, the 787-9, will carry 250 to 290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles.

Boeing also has been talking about a third, larger variant, the 787-10, and says it is seeing strong airline interest in the plane.

The first domestic flights are set to start in Japan in September.

By David Wilkening