Testing of the 787 is now restarting and the first production aircraft, wearing an ANA tail, is to join the test fleet shortly. Boeing still aren't
giving out a date for the first delivery though. With Airbus talking of mid 2013 for the first A350 delivery ( barring slippages, of course) it might
end up being neck and neck. Quite an interesting race.
Whichever way it goes I will be interested to see what the eventual time difference actually is between the service entries of these two aircraft.
Boeing started with a lead of four years and I wouldn't like to bet whether that time difference would be shorter, as currently appears likely, will
be restored by delays to the Airbus, or might end up being even longer. Airbus will be hoping that A380 and A400M lessons will help them out, we will
see.
edit on 19-1-2011 by waynos because: Spelling