On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:59:53 -0400, john smith wrote
in :


Those are BIG engines!!!

That's what I was thinking too.


http://www.boeing.com/commercial/787...ackground.html
Boeing has selected General Electric and Rolls-Royce to develop
engines for the new airplane. It is expected that advances in
engine technology will contribute as much as 8 percent of the
increased efficiency of the new airplane, representing a nearly
two-generation jump in technology for the middle of the market.

Another improvement in efficiency will come in the way the
airplane is designed and built. New technologies and processes are
in development to help Boeing and its supplier partners achieve
unprecedented levels of performance at every phase of the program.
For example, by manufacturing a one-piece fuselage section, we are
eliminating 1,500 aluminum sheets and 40,000 - 50,000 fasteners.