With the launch of its superjumbo, the A380, Airbus made what looked like an unbeatable bid for commercial aviation supremacy. But archrival Boeing responded: Not so fast.

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner would generate more excitement—and more orders—than any commercial airplane in the company’s history. This book offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the first all-new airplane developed by Boeing since its 1990 launch of the 777. With hundreds of photographs and diagrams, Boeing 787 Dreamliner closely details the design and building of Boeing’s new twin-engine jet airliner, as well as the drama behind its launch: the key players, the controversies, the critical decisions about materials and technology—the plastic reinforced with carbon fiber that make this mid-sized widebody super lightweight. And here, from every angle, is the Dreamliner itself, in all its gleaming readiness to rule the air.