United Airlines on Monday presented a first glimpse of the special paint scheme that will appear on its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.
In a nod to the Boeing corporate livery which has appeared on every 787 test aircraft, each of United’s 787s will feature a swooping gold line along the sides of the fuselage from the nose to the tail.
United says it wants to use the livery to pay tribute to its long history of launching new aircraft models with Boeing. The Chicago-based carrier, which was the first airline to fly both the 767 and 777 aircraft, is the North American launch customer for the 787.
The first of 50 Boeing 787s ordered by United is scheduled for delivery in late September, with a total of five expected to enter service by the end of 2012.
United also announced Monday that the first aircraft would undergo an extensive testing regime conducted both by the airline and the FAA prior to entering service in the fall.
Pilots have already been training on the full motion 787 simulator United installed at its Houston hub. Flight attendants and maintenance techs have also been trained on the new aircraft type. Nearly 1,200 spare 787 parts have been procured for quick replacement when needed.
United Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner livery. (Image by United Airlines)
United Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner livery. (Image by United Airlines)
