Black Air NZ 787-9 unveiled

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Air New Zealand's first black 787-9 unveiled

By JOSH MARTIN - The Dominion Post | 1:01PM - Monday, 07 April 2014

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/9913176sr_07apr14_zpsaaedd8a5.jpg

AIR NEW ZEALAND is one step closer to receiving its long-delayed Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet, with the first aircraft rolling out of the Seattle factory in the airline's distinctive new all black livery.

The 787 is the first to feature the livery which incorporates the silver fern design used by Tourism New Zealand.

Air New Zealand chief flight operations and safety officer Captain David Morgan, who was in Seattle for the unveiling, said it was exciting to see the combined koru and silver fern design.

"This will soon be the first 787-9 aircraft anywhere in the world to operate commercially and I think it will instil a sense of pride in Kiwis and turn heads when it touches down at airports throughout Asia and the Pacific," Morgan said.

The aircraft will be delivered by mid-winter and begin flying the Auckland to Perth route from October 15th. Ten of the more fuel-efficient aircraft have been ordered.

Air New Zealand's first black 787-9 unveiled | Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/9913087/Air-New-Zealands-first-black-787-9-unveiled)

____________________________________________________________ ________________

Click on any of these photographs to download a larger size....


http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/ar_2014apr05anz1_zps5f2a09e5.jpg (http://www.airlinereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ZKNZEBACKINGOUT.jpg)
Air New Zealand’s first 787-9 rolling out of the paint hangar. — Photo: Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com (http://www.airlinereporter.com/).

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/ar_2014apr05anz2_zps8793896e.jpg (http://www.airlinereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ZKNZEFIRSTLOOK.jpg)
ZK-NZE under tow from the paint shop. — Photo: Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com (http://www.airlinereporter.com/).

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/ar_2014apr05anz3_zpsc76e32ed.jpg (http://www.airlinereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ZKNZEFRONTON.jpg)
Nose to nose with Air New Zealand’s first Dreamliner. — Photo: Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com (http://www.airlinereporter.com/).

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/ar_2014apr05anz4_zps63e15570.jpg (http://www.airlinereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ZKNZEFULLON.jpg)
Fully side on with ZK-NZE. — Photo: Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com (http://www.airlinereporter.com/).

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/ar_2014apr06anz1_zpsbaca7ca0.jpg (http://www.airlinereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/AN787-9b.jpg)
ZK-NZE on the Boeing compass rose at KPAE. — Photo: Bernie Leighton/AirlineReporter.com (http://www.airlinereporter.com/).

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Air NZ's 787 flight simulator - YouTube

[NoseGear]

You gotta admit, that is one very sharp looking airplane....I saw the 777 at Ohakea a few years ago, and they really do turn heads. Well done Air NZ:D

[h.o.t.a.s.]

OH my! :ok::ok::ok:

That just looks spectacular.


This is an Airline that just seems to do everything right!

[kmagyoyo]

Build a friggen bridge.

[601]

Always been told NOT to paint a plastic boat black because ....

[Captain Gidday]

Always been told NOT to paint a plastic boat black because ....

http://yachtpals.com/files/userimages/newzealand_americascupb.jpg

?Because?
Because you might find yourself leading 8 : 1 and still lose. But that might have been because of the association with Emirates.

[Alien Role]

Was told by a NZ Engineer that they might be great as a marketing tool, but the black ships are a pain for the engineers - they got a lightning strike on the black 777 and whereas with a white hull it is easy to see the burn marks etc, it took them ages to go over the a/c to look for damage and especially at night, the black "soaks up your torch light" and makes it difficult to spot damage.
They do look sharp though !!

Role on.....

[theheadmaster]

Fully sick Bro!

[RampDog]

New Zealand's National Party Government obviously sees some value in having an interest in their national carrier. Nice fleet and tax payers money well spent on promoting it :ok:

Shares on Issue - About Air New Zealand - Company Information - Air New Zealand - United States Site (http://www.airnewzealand.com/shares-on-issue)

This what they did way back -

BBC News | BUSINESS | Air New Zealand renationalised (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1578389.stm)

Heaven forbid, could even be used as a model for other countries' struggling airlines :eek:.

[27/09]

Rampdog: New Zealand's National Party Government obviously sees some value in having an interest in their national carrier. Nice fleet and tax payers money well spent on promoting it

Shares on Issue - About Air New Zealand - Company Information - Air New Zealand - United States Site

This what they did way back -

BBC News | BUSINESS | Air New Zealand renationalised

Heaven forbid, could even be used as a model for other countries' struggling airlines .

Rampdog

A couple of points. The airline wasn't nationalised, there were still other shareholders. The then Labour government stepped in and bought a majority shareholding following the 9/11 catastrophe and the Ansett debacle.

Since then the successive governments have received substantial dividends and recouped a significant portion of the original investment when they sold down their shareholding at a greatly increased share price over what they paid for the shares to start with.

While taxpayers money was used in the original shareholding purchase there has been no taxpayer money spent since. Anything the airline does is done with money it earns. In fact taxpayers have done very well out of the deal. Air New Zealand operates like any other public company.

I do agree other governments could use this as a model.

[RampDog]

27/09, You are absolutely correct, Air New Zealand has paid its own way with a proactive and collaborative approach by management and staff. Taxpayers (and customers) have reaped the benefits. It shows what can be done by building the core business and not by watering it down or wasting resources on speculative strategies.
Trouble is some people (more than one btw) are too stubborn (or grossly overpaid) to admit they are wrong. There should be no embarrassment in copying successful models, there's money in it :D

[Plazbot]

Totally badass. :ok:

[Una Due Tfc]

I think the 788 is relatively ugly, something about the proportions, but that 789 in black looks very nice indeed. The black hides the porpoise like nose that the 787 and A350 share, which aint nice IMHO

[Wally Mk2]

I can imagine that the black exterior would possibly be more difficult in some area's for the spanner turners. Small fluid leaks streaking back under a belly for Eg might not be so obvious during a walk around in the rain at night even with a candle. Still looks impressive though & that's the only reason it's like that I imagine as we are all visual creatures:-)
As for the design/shape? The nose kinda reminds me of the Comet, also doesn't look much diff than a 767 overall. Will be interesting to see when the 350 is in service, bigger & am sure the 'Bus' Co are learning from others misfortunes.


Wmk2

[TBM-Legend]

New LBD...:hmm:

"Once you've gone black, you'll never go back!"

[troppo]

Timelapse: New Air NZ Boeing 787-9 - Business - NZ Herald Videos (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503079&gal_cid=1503079&gallery_id=142291)

[601]

?Because?

Black absorbs more heat than any other colour. Composites generally have a specific heat range in which the composites can be used.

The black hulled cat only had to last one race series where as the 787 has to last a lot longer.

[underfire]

From the video....the black paint came in ONE gallon cans?!?!?!?!

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

This is officially Air New Zealand's new livery which will be worn by most of the fleet, including existing aeroplanes as they are repainted....

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/dreamliner03_02jan14_zps69856fd0.jpg~original (http://www.ausbt.com.au/photos/view/52b913678fc0426db5e12b2e767f2254-air-new-zealand-new-livery-white-1000.jpg)


However, some of their aeroplanes get this livery....

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/dreamliner04_02jan14_zpsd1ed1469.jpg~original (http://www.ausbt.com.au/photos/view/52b91370c6f84ad9a0982ab8767f2254-air-new-zealand-new-livery-black-1000.jpg)


The airline obviously wishes to make a statement by turning out the first 787-9 in the black livery.

[V-Jet]

Why is that when you work for Qantas you have to be jealous of everyone else, not just for one thing, but it seems almost everything!

Awesome looking machine (and Ive never liked ANZ's logo particularly) but skimming through this thread I see some promising comments, like 'the engineers don't like it', so there might be some silver lining to the dark cloud Qf inhabits (pardon the pun) but then when you think about it, even that comment is wilful boasting to us poor Aussies. AT LEAST YOU HAVE ENGINEERS!!!!!

You lucky, lucky bastards!!

When you get bored looking at your beautiful machines, can you jot down a few 'how to' notes and post them to our inept bunch of incompetent morons at Coward St please?

PS: They even completely aesthetically ruined our Kangaroo, which was (i think) one of the most striking and beautiful logos in the world. There must be more airlines who have resisted the urge for new CEO's to try to say to the world 'Look at me!' but Lufthansa and ANZ have adapted their logo through the ages with grace, subtlety and considerable restraint. Just like we did at Qantas until relatively recently.

Congratulations Air New Zealand.

[ampclamp]

Looks fantastic guys! Making money , great new paint job, new economical aircraft. :ok:

[tdracer]

From the video....the black paint came in ONE gallon cans?!?!?!?! Underfire, I don't have any experience with aviation paint, but I do have with automotive paint which I believe is similar (I've painted a few cars). The color comes in one gallon cans (or smaller), but you mix it with a whole bunch of stuff before you spray. So one gallon of color makes ~2-3 gallons of sprayable paint. Once you add the catalyst, you have maybe 30 minutes pot life, so mixing more than a couple gallons at a time just invites waste (and the stuff is expensive - automotive is a couple hundred USD/gallon, I'm sure the stuff Boeing uses is several times that - so you don't want to be throwing it out...).

BTW, I doubt the painters like black much either. Very unforgiving to use.

[Aviater]

Some GA composite aircraft manufacturers will only allow white or silver like colours on their aircraft due to heat and UV absorption. I wonder why it's different for the 787? Most GA composite aircraft are hangered too whereas airline aircraft can sit out in the heat and UV for hours.

Any theories?

Imagine that black 787 at 1pm on a hot 40 degree day sitting on the deck at Brisbane airport Australia for say, all afternoon.

[waren9]

my theory is that boeing reckons it'll be all ok

if the skin can handle -64 then surely +64 isnt too much drama

on a lighter note, congrats to them. another end of line carrier having a good go at it.

[Australopithecus]

I am another envious airline employee. Its like watching a brightly lit cruise liner pass by from a lifeboat, the occupants of which are eyeing each other to see who can be jettisoned next.

Good on you, Kiwis, for a great turn-around, and for actually getting on with the business of being an airline.

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

An interesting write-up in today's Los Angeles Times...

Air New Zealand's black Dreamliner flies in the face of convention - latimes.com (http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-air-new-zealand-black-dreamliner-20140410,0,7809094.story)


Plus more photographs published in a photo gallery accompanying the article....

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/LA%20Times%20News%20Pix%202014/latimes_2014apr11anz1_zps17872f3f.jpg (http://www.trbimg.com/img-53472e01/turbine/la-trb-air-new-zealand-black-dreamliner-pg-201-001)
The new paint scheme on Air New Zealand's 787-9 was completed on April 5th at Boeing in the Seattle area. — Photo: Air New Zealand.


http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/LA%20Times%20News%20Pix%202014/latimes_2014apr11anz2_zps5bcb921e.jpg (http://www.trbimg.com/img-53472e01/turbine/la-trb-air-new-zealand-black-dreamliner-pg-201-002)
The koru — Maori — on the tail fin is said to symbolize life and is an image long associated with Air New Zealand. — Photo: Air New Zealand.

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/LA%20Times%20News%20Pix%202014/latimes_2014apr11anz3_zpsc5bc4607.jpg (http://www.trbimg.com/img-53472e01/turbine/la-trb-air-new-zealand-black-dreamliner-pg-201-003)
The fern on the aft fuselage is a symbol of New Zealand and is said to have its roots in a Maori legend. — Photo: Air New Zealand.

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/LA%20Times%20News%20Pix%202014/latimes_2014apr11anz4_zpse4a7efce.jpg (http://www.trbimg.com/img-53472e01/turbine/la-trb-air-new-zealand-black-dreamliner-pg-201-004)
The 787-9 is to go into service later this year and is expected to serve Auckland, New Zealand, to Perth, Australia, as well as Auckland-Shanghai
and Auckland-Tokyo. — Photo: Air New Zealand.

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/LA%20Times%20News%20Pix%202014/latimes_2014apr11anz5_zpsec951fca.jpg (http://www.trbimg.com/img-53472e01/turbine/la-trb-air-new-zealand-black-dreamliner-pg-201-005)
The painting took five days, Air New Zealand said. — Photo: Air New Zealand.

Click on each of those photographs to download a considerably-larger version.

[Semi Rigid]

Congratulations AirNZ. It's a niiccee.

[nitpicker330]

Ok silly question but why can't I see the Windscreen Wipers sitting vertically near the centre post? Have they not been fitted yet or has the photo touched up?

On other photos of 787's you can clearly see them.

Just wondering...:}

[V-Jet]

One of the best looking jets I think I have ever seen.

It is one of those rare things that gets better with every viewing.

[cattletruck]

Not a fan of black, it's a difficult finish to maintain.

Reckon it would have looked awesome if they used the white scheme above and embroidered the main fuselage with traditional Maori tattoos.

Nonetheless it seems to have gotten worldwide attention, which is another bonus for ANZ - kudos to their management.

[Eastwest Loco]

Gorgeous aeroplane and very attractive livery.

Does this mean it will be based in Sydney and register with Centrelink?

No. 2 son - the little 6'8" one - recently flew BI to London and back and found the aeroplane type amazingly quiet, roomy and comfortable even in regular non exit seats.

I beat him to the A380 with a SYDAKL plus overnight on OQA on the 1st ever international passenger flight but he has dacked me with the 787.

The black livery suits the girl.

Best all

EWL

[underfire]

Ok silly question but why can't I see the Windscreen Wipers sitting vertically near the centre post?

wipers and front license plate not installed... :}

[oceancrosser]

wipers and front license plate not installed... :}

Hope they come with better wipers than the crap on 757/767. :ugh:

[SMOC]

Curved glass for windshields should make for great wipers just like the 747. Every A/C with flat front windshields Airbus & Boeing seems to have problems with the wipers.

[Falling Leaf]

Not a fan of black, it's a difficult finish to maintain.

Has anyone else noted how bad the paint finish on the Crapstar 787 looks? For a brand new jet the paint finish looks very faded and patchy. Maybe they didn't want to pay for the second coat? :}

[slackie]

The B789 in black has just knocked the B744 (in any colour!) off my "favourite current pax aircraft" top spot... hanging out to see a B748 "in the flesh" to see if it can regain the top spot.:ok::ok: Of course nothing can compete with the Concorde, but un4298ley it aint current!!

[Sqwark2000]

AirNZ has several frames painted in the Black scheme (B773, A320, ATR72 & B1900 (2) ), some have been around for a couple of years now, and their finish is still looking sharp!

I'd think the value of maintaining a unique scheme on a couple of frames is worth the attention and brand awareness it creates.

S2k

[tdracer]

Nitpicker, I've been checking out the new 787s after they come out of the paint hanger, and none have had the windshield wipers installed. Presumably they get installed post painting but pre-flight, as I can clearly see them on 787s parked on the flight line (and the flight line aircraft are easily 10 times further away from my vantage point).

Falling Leaf - as I was leaving work today there was a Jetstar 787 that had just come out of the paint hanger. I was startled at how mottled and splotchy the paint job looked - almost like it wasn't finished. I don't understand it - generally the airplanes coming out of the paint hanger look fantastic.
The 787 fuselage and wings are showing up with a white coating (unsure if it's paint or something more along the line of the plastic like green protective coating that the aluminum fuselage sections of the 747 and 777 have). I'm told that the composite materials don't like direct exposure to sunlight - hence the white coating. That Jetstar 787 looked like perhaps they'd retained some of that white coating to save weight and/or cost :confused:

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/anz_DreamlinerFirstFlight_29may14_zps1ddf37c3.jpg (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11264087)

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

Air New Zealand's first Boeing 787-9 arrives in Auckland tomorrow (Friday 11th July) at the end of its delivery flight.


• https://twitter.com/AvWeekScho

[Kiwithrottlejockey]

from The Seattle Times....

First customer shows off Boeing’s 787-9

By BRANDON BROWN - Seattle Times business reporter | 9:50PM PDT - Wednesday, July 09, 2014

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/seattletimes_20140709_dreamliner1_zpsecf0354b.jpg
Air New Zealand’s Cleavon Whittfield puts some finishing touches on an engine casing.
— Photo: Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times.

[PAINTED BLACK with white wings and a traditional fern design on its tail, the first delivered 787-9 Dreamliner was unveiled on Wednesday by Boeing and Air New Zealand.

Air New Zealand will be the first airline to fly the new plane, which is scheduled to enter service October 15th, on a route from Auckland, New Zealand, to Perth, Australia.

The 787-9 will be used on Air New Zealand’s flights to Shanghai and Tokyo as well. Rob McDonald, the carrier’s chief financial officer, said it will also enable the airline to open new routes, but he would not give details.

The airline will start to replace its Boeing 767-300 planes with 787-9s, completing the switch by 2016, he said. The company has ordered 10 787-9s and should receive them all by late 2017.

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/seattletimes_20140709_dreamliner2_zpseef5a605.jpg
Launch customer Air New Zealand will replace all of its Boeing 767-300s with the 787-9s by 2016.
The company has ordered 10 of the new Dreamliners and should receive the last by late 2017.
— Photo: Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times.

Boeing Vice President Mark Jenks said Air New Zealand, as the launch customer, worked closely with Boeing on both the interior and exterior design of the plane.

“We involved them (Air New Zealand) very early,” Jenks said. “Having them there was really fantastic from the development perspective.”

Jenks praised Air New Zealand’s innovations on the jet’s interior, from the seating arrangements to USB ports for passengers’ electronic devices.

Inside the 302-seat plane, there are four different seating sectors: Business Premier, Premium Economy, Economy Skycouch and Economy. Each seat comes with a high-definition touch-screen entertainment device.

http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo92/RasputinDude/Aviation%20News%20Story%20Pix/seattletimes_20140709_dreamliner3_zpsb79578af.jpg
Business-class seats turn into beds on the first delivered 787-9 for Air New Zealand.
Boeing and the airline showed off the jet Wednesday at Paine Field.
— Photo: Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times.

Business Premier includes a leather armchair that can turn into a lay-down bed with memory-foam mattress.

In the economy section, there are 14 three-seat groupings that can be turned into a flat, sofalike surface that Air New Zealand calls a Skycouch.

The windows on Air New Zealand’s 787-9 are 30 percent bigger than the airline’s current 767. This allows in more natural light, and passengers can easily see out the windows on the other side of the aircraft.

At 206 feet in length, the 787-9 is 20 feet longer than Boeing’s first version, the 787-8. Boeing boasts a 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency compared with earlier airplanes of similar size.

Through June 2014, Boeing has received 409 orders for the 787-9 from 26 different customers, according to its website. In total, it has 869 unfilled orders for the 787 Dreamliner.

First customer shows off Boeing’s 787-9 | Business & Technology | The Seattle Times (http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2024031821_airnz787xml.html)

[Boney]

Was in beautiful Seattle a month ago doing a Boeing factory tour.

Saw this weapon out on the Tarmac.

I said to the Mrs, "look at that, the cheeky buggars have painted it ALL BLACK"

Yet again, those sheep chasers have showed the Aussies how to do it properly!

[waren9]

landed in akl at 4.22pm today. no flyover of auckland due weather.