Boeing shows off 787 Dreamliner at EAA AirVenture

OSHKOSH - Boeing's newest passenger plane was at EAA and open for public tours for the first time ever.

Boeing says the new mid-sized aircraft features many new technologies and is about 20% more fuel efficient than other models, as well as offer increased comfort to passengers.

"It carries twice the humidity of a normal airplane," said Capt. Mike Carriker, chief pilot for the 787 program. "A 14 hour flight was very pleasant because you have more oxygen, you have more humidity. You don't know why, you just don't feel as tired or worn out."

Despite production delays of four years, the company says it hopes the plane will be in operation by the end of this year except for United and Delta, mostly by airlines in other countries.

The plane at EAA AirVenture was far from finished on the inside, with data retrieving equipment. In the spirit of EAA, Carriker says he wanted to bring a plane that wasn't ready for the airlines.

"A lot of people here are associated with experimental airplanes, they know what an experimental airplane is," he said. "To see the interior and all the instrumentation, things that we use to get our data and certify our airplane is far more appropriate for EAA AirVenture."

It did not seem to bother tour-goers and passers-by.

"I think it's really cool. In fact I was just taking pictures of the experimental insignia over the door there," said Ray Wisniewski of Custer.

The Bates family of Zeeland, Michigan has had a special view, as Lonnie Bates works for the company that makes the new high-tech windows in the Dreamliner.

"Instead of having the manual shades, these have a low voltage that actually makes them dim, block out the sun," he said.

While there is no firm timetable for when the Dreamliner will be ready for commercial use, Boeing says it has already sold more than 800 of the planes to airlines around the world.