CHRONOLOGY-Boeing's 787 still stuck on the ground
June 23 (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) delayed its new 787 Dreamliner for the fifth time on Tuesday, just a week before its first test flight, saying it needs to strengthen the side panels near where the wing joins the fuselage [ID:nN23546619].
The plane was set to fly by next Tuesday, according to the latest schedule -- almost two years after the first target in the summer of 2007. No new date has been set.
The No. 2 planemaker behind EADS (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) unit Airbus has been struggling with a range of supply, manufacturing and design problems, made worse by a two-month strike at Boeing's Seattle-area plants last year.
The following events show the slow and bumpy progress of the revolutionary, carbon composite aircraft, which is key to Boeing's financial success.
2002 - Boeing drops its "Sonic Cruiser" concept, responding to airlines' calls for better fuel efficiency rather than extra speed.
June 2003 - dubs its new, carbon-composite airplane the "Dreamliner."
Dec 2003 - approves an initial version of the plane with the temporary name 7E7, the E standing for "efficiency".
April 2004 - officially launches the plane as Japan's All Nippon Airways (9202.T: Quote, Profile, Research) (ANA) orders 50.
Dec 2004 - ends 2004 with 56 orders for the new plane, fewer than it had expected. Continued...
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