Dreamliner

ANA introduces two new Star Wars planes

ANA NEW 1

What fun!

Japan’s ANA airlines will soon have two new Star Wars planes, decorated with BB-8, a brand new character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and with our old friend, R2-D2. The new designs are part of an agreement with The Walt Disney Company (Japan) and will be in addition to the previously announced R2-D2 ANA Jet, which is scheduled to go into service on October 18, 2015.

The new BB-8 ANA Jet, will be a Boeing 777-300ER. The new Star Wars ANA Jet, which will be decorated with both BB-8 and R2-D2 on the outside, is a Boeing 767-300. The previously announced R2-D2 jet is a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The decorations won’t just be on the outside. Like EVA Air’s Hello Kitty jets, ANA’s Star War-themed jets will have headrest covers, paper napkins and cups, and no doubt other in-flight service item (Star Wars toilet paper, please…) featuring Star Wars characters.

ANA Star War image

The airline also announcing that it will now offer all six of the currently released Star Wars films as part of the in-flight entertainment options on international routes.

All three Star Wars Jets will fly international and domestic routes. The R2-D2 ANA Jet is scheduled to go into service on international routes on October 18, starting as flight NH116 between Tokyo and Vancouver, and then fly between Japan and other cities, including Seattle and San Jose, Munich, Paris and Brussels, Sydney, Beijing and Jakarta.

In November, the Star Wars ANA Jet will begin flying domestic Japanese routes, with the BB-8 jet starting international routes, between Japan and North America in March 2016.

Here’s a link to ANA’s fun website site with all things Star Wars and a video of the jets “in action”:

Star Wars fave R2-D2 will become Dreamliner livery

ANA Star War image

Move over Hello Kitty, R2-D2 is coming to the skies.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced that the adorable rolling Star Wars robot character will be painted on a new 787-9 Dreamliner as part of a five year agreement with the Walt Disney Company. You’ll need to wait until next fall to see the livery flying on international flights, but here’s a short video of what it should look like.

Can’t wait for Star Wars: The Force Awakens to hit the theaters? There’s a preview here.

Seattle’s Museum of Flight gets a Dreamliner

It’s still so new – but the 787 Dreamliner is already a museum piece.

On Saturday, Nov. 8, the Boeing Company will officially donate Dreamliner “Number 3” to Seattle’s Museum of Flight.

If you’re in town, you’ll be able to see the plane in the museum’s East Parking Lot all weekend and tour it from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, and all day Sunday, Nov. 9.

The plane will then be relocated and closed to the public from Nov. 10 until the 21st while it gets prepped for permanent exhibition starting Nov. 22.

What’s the big deal about this airplane?

This 787 – ZA003 – was the third Dreamliner built. It first flew on March 14, 2010 and, in addition to its role in the flight test and certification program, Boeing flew this plane to almost two dozen countries to show it off as part of a “Dream Tour.”

Finally – a ride on a 787 Dreamliner

Happy New Year, everyone. Here’s a toast to a happy, healthy and productive new year.

Last year I was hard at work on a book (about things museums have but don’t show you) and had to decline numerous opportunities to fly on the 787 Dreamliner. I had to be content with just a few on-the-ground tours, but on Wednesday I’m pleased and excited to be booked as a guest on the LAN Airlines’ first fight of a 787 Dreamliner from Los Angeles to Santiago, Chile.

787 Dreamliner

The have been many 787 “firsts” and LAN, which was the first airline in the Americas to receive a 787, now boasts that it is the first carrier to offer international service on the 787 Dreamliner at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The LAN 787 will operate nonstop service from Los Angeles to Santiago, Chile three days per week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with daily flights to Lima, Peru with continuing service to Santiago beginning in February.

My bags – and my camera – are packed, so check back for more 787, LAX and Santiago news over the next few days.

787 Dreamliner delivery

Here are some fun photos from a day spent at Boeing’s Everett campus, learning about and touring the 787 Dreamliner and wandering around the 787 factory floor in preparation for Monday’s long-awaited delivery celebration for the first Dreamliner delivery to ANA.

A bit mystifying... No smoking, yet the FAA requires an ashtray.

787 Dreamliner cockpit

More 787s in the pipeline at Boeing factory in Everett

Saving money? Note masking tape fix to turn 777 to 787.