Nice Flight !!

I had a chance to fly on the new
Boeing 787 Dreamliner this week,
Houston to Chicago.  Pretty cool.

  

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Unfortunately, I didn't have good opportunities to photograph the plane much, had to get on board and go.  But I got a couple, and took a few out of the new windows.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Our flight took off just after dawn.  I love flying at that time of day.  Actually, I love being up and watching the sun come up.  I always feel like I'm participating in something wonderful, and that everybody else is missing out.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Actually, I enjoy sitting by a window whenever I can. 

Any time that there is something to see,

you'll find me staring out,

studying the items on the ground, checking out the clouds...

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

So, the new windows...

They are larger than typical aircraft windows, maybe as much as twice the surface area.  There is no "shade" to pull down.  There is only a toggle switch below each window so you can "dim" or "lighten" the light coming through.  And since they are electronic, the crew can control them all at the same time when needed.

 

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

It isn't opaque, and nothing interferes with your view...
...it just turns blue, until it looks like you are looking through clear, blue cellophane.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

Even with the sun shining right in on me, it was quite comfortable sitting and looking out.  The only thing I wondered about, was long cross-ocean flights, when everybody is trying to sleep, because this is about as dark as it gets...not nearly as dark as typical shades.

Photo by Mark W. Laughlin

 So, as far as I could tell, the "battery issues" are under control and the 787 is finally flying regularly in the USA.  Go check it out.

Take care,

 

- Mark W. Laughlin