Chicago based airframe manufacturer Boeing announced the third delay to their 787 Dreamliner this week, in a move that many industry analysts have been predicting for several weeks now. I guess things haven't been coming together as fast as they had expected.

This time around, corporate has put sloppier dates on their milestones so that they can be more flexible on their timing and hopefully won't miss any further checkpoints -- multiple customers are relying on these timetables and it has been well publicized that Boeing often has to pay stiff penalties for being behind.

First flight has thus now been pushed back to the the fourth quarter of this year, with the first delivery scheduled in the third quarter of 2009. CEO Scott Carson boasted about the company's achievements earlier in the week, conceding, however that "... the traveled work situation and some unanticipated rework have prevented us from hitting the milestones we laid out in January. Our revised schedule is built upon an achievable, high-confidence plan for getting us to our power-on and first-flight milestones"

Let's hope that this schedule is actually achievable.

The last few months have been a little rough for Boeing. After all but laughing at their rival Airbus for delays related to their A380 program, the Chicago based airframe manufacturer has pushed back the delivery of their new 787 composite aircraft twice, citing supply chain and final construction issues.

Then, earlier this month, Boeing lost a key Department of Defense contract for airborne tankers to the European air and space conglomerate, EADS, in a performance based competition.

Now, some airline analysts are starting to predict another, more significant delay for the embattled aircraft. Construction and integration of the wing box, a critical section on the underbelly that interfaces with the wings, holds fuel and connects to the landing gear, appears to be the source of the issue. Steven Udvar-Hazy, chairman of International Lease Finance Corp, Boeing's largest customer recently highlighted the problems and referred to the situation as "not pretty".

This is, however, one opinion from one analyst in the industry. Boeing hasn't made an official statement on the matter, stating that they've been "focused on [their] near-term milestones of power on and first flight", but Yyvone Leach, their Senior 787 PR contact did proffer this foreshadowing:

"It is normal during the development of a new airplane to discover the need for design enhancements. We are working with our partners to address the need for design changes in some areas. While these changes are not good for final assembly because they are dealing with traveled work at this time, the design changes are not the sole pacing item."

The program update for media and analysts is scheduled for April 23. Perhaps things will be more transparent by then.

Check out James Wallace's blog for more info (and speculation).

Several news depots are reporting rumors that Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner aircraft is going to be delayed by another three months. Right now the airline is "reviewing their schedule" as their stock wildly flounders on the stock market.

The story? Same old supply chain issues. Apparently the airline company, who recently lost a their bid on a hotly contested air tanker order, still can't manage to get their suppliers in line and their aircraft put together on time.

As an analyst from Goldman Sachs puts it,

"[Boeing] continues to underestimate the amount of work required on the 787. We think Boeing will notify suppliers of new production targets shortly, motivated by the need to keep delivery commitments to airlines."

I guess designing and building an entirely new airframe takes time. Just look at the problems with the A380 -- that was pushed back even further than the 787 (so far). I guess nobody is immune to manufacturing hiccups.

Boeing issued a press release early this morning pushing back the release of the 787 one more time, citing issues with their global supply chain as well as stitching the final aircraft together.

First flight is now scheduled for some time late in the second quarter.

Though several in the airline sector had predicted the delay -- after all, this is the first time that an aircraft company has attempted to globalize a supply chain of this magnitude -- today's news still comes as a disappointment to investors and enthusiasts alike, both of whom were looking forward to riding on the aircraft sometime this year.

Hopefully this doesn't turn into the fiasco that the A380 became and that turned into a major disappointment for EADS. Continue reading for the full press release:

We all remember the much hyped -- and recurring letdowns -- that led up to the release of the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger jumbo jet now flying over the Southeast Asian skies. It was a roller coaster of a journey, with EADS's stock wildly galloping across European stock exchanges, investors crying murder and numerous management changes within the embattled airline company.

We all hoped that this wouldn't happen to Boeing, our domestic and local favorite airplane manufacturer. But as their 787 reaches the critical stage of release vs. delay, more attention has turned to the possibility of further delays and a repeat of the A380 runaround. Indeed as the Wall Street Journal reported earlier, Boeing is close to making another delay announcement, and their 787 may not fly until the middle of this year.

But Boeing has more at stake than EADS. With the fastest selling jet in commercial airline history, the Chicago based company has not only 817 airplanes to deliver but a reputation and integrity to maintain. Investors have faithfully banked on their success and if Boeing balks on their promises there are going to be serious financial ramifications.

Good luck, my friends.

Ever get one of those turbulent landings where you think that with a little flight simulator experience you could land the plane better?

Well with the new 787's computer system architecture, maybe you can! According to a recent UK Times article, the FAA is concerned with the potential connectivity between passengers' entertainment systems and that of the airplane control. Their thought is that both software engines on the same computer system create a security vulnerability through which "hackers" and "terrorists" can access the flight system from their seats. Apparently, current Audio and Video on Demand (AVOD) and flight systems do not operate in this way.

Perhaps it's just me, but knowing a little about computers I can't fathom how or when Boeing could allow a design flaw this serious. In addition to the ridiculous hardware and software securities that must exist between the two entities, does not a hacker need some way to access the system? Most AVOD systems run with a remote control or touchpad. Some new airlines, have USB, wireless or firewire ports on their systems, but aren't these run on a closed seat loop?

Has anyone ever plugged a keyboard into an AVOD system and tried to reboot?

Perhaps some of the nerds out there can enlighten us. Anyone out there on Engadget ever hacked an AVOD system? I'm really interested to see how far off base on this I am, but to me this article stinks of an over protective bureaucracy nedlessley waving its arms over a problem that doesn't really exist. In the end, our peace of mind is the only victim.

Despite the recent setbacks and delays logged by Boeing on production of their new 787 Dreamliner, the fastest selling commercial airplane of all time, corporate sources are still holding to their (revised) Q4 '08 delivery date. Production of the first three prototypes is well underway, the first (closest) for their "first flight" demonstration and the second two for static and fatigue testing.

You may recall the unveiling of the 787 earlier this year, which was a huge PR and photo event (get your CEO's picture taken in front of the Dreamliner today!). Why can't they fly that bird, you ask? Well, Boeing cut a few corners stitching that prototype together in time for the event. Now they're going back, closing the gaps and getting the entire beast put together correctly for actual operation.

Their PR people tell me that the first flight is supposed to take place some time at the end of the first quarter next year. Hopefully the suppliers stay on schedule so that this actually happens.

Alas, the long awaited 787 Dreamliner has been delayed, citing "challenges" in assembling the first products. Earlier this year, Justin reported the rollout of the first complete prototype, but even that was rushed to look nice for the media. For example, small gaps remained in the fuselage that the company glossed over for the purpose of the initial media blitz.

For those of you unaware, Boeing's 787 is slated as the next generation of aircraft: lighter, faster, eco-friendly and more efficient than its 20th century counterparts. To date, its been the fastest selling widebody ever before its entry into service and expectations are high.

As we've learned from the Airbus A380 and its repeated delays, however, numerous suppliers, production issues and bureaucratic tomfoolery come into play when producing a new airplane. EADS has already been through numerous management changes due to scheduling tiffs while shareholders are screaming bloody murder.

What we don't want to happen here is for Boeing to repeat these mistakes. More missteps and carriers will start dropping orders, more delays could occur and Boeing would take a hit on sales. And as one of the primary exporters in this country, our economy and the American people are counting on the 787 and Boeing's success. Cross your fingers.

Japan's All Nippon Airways have announced they will be installing bidets in the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, set to be delivered in May of 2008. This is a first for any commercial airline. (Vladimir Putin had a bidet in his private jet, however.)

With over 60 percent of Japanese households sporting a bidet, this makes sense. But I can't help but wonder just how much larger the lavatory will have to be to accommodate this. Will the bidet be built into the toilet, or will it be separate? Or will it be a hand-held spray bidet that are common across Asia? The bidet-toilet combo makes the most sense due to the constricted space, but the Dreamliner is a big plane, so who knows?

Someone is going to have to teach me how to use one of those things.

Today, Sunday, July 8, at 3:30 PM PDT (-7 GMT), Boeing will officially unveil the new 787 Dreamliner live on the Internet and via 35 international satellite TV networks. Why today? It is 07/08/07, of course. So grab some peanuts, get cozy, and watch the Dreamliner make its first official public appearance as its rolled out of the hanger at the Boeing plant in Seattle.

You may remember our post a few weeks ago about the not-so-official appearance of the 787, when a sharpshooter over at Airliners.net snapped a few spy shots of the unpainted plane as it left the hangar. Something tells me the 787 will be painted and ready to be photographed today.

• Watch the 787 Dreamliner Premiere Live