Boeing: 787 delayed but on budget

LONDON -- Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is overweight and experiencing delays with some suppliers, the company said yesterday, while stressing that the long-range, fuel-efficient jet remains on budget and on schedule.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes' chief executive, Alan Mulally, speaking in London on the eve of the Farnborough Air Show, declined to say where 787 supply problems were occurring or by how much the plane was exceeding its target weight.

He emphasized that the plane remains on course for its first flight in mid-2007 and entry into service the following year.

``Some partners are a little behind on the schedule but we're working with them on recovery plans," he said, adding that ``the systems are coming together really well, the electrical power looks good" and the plane's Rolls-Royce PLC and General Electric Co. engines come ``very, very close to their performance goals."

Boeing Co. does not disclose development costs. Spokesman Charlie Miller said the supply and weight issues would not affect the program's budget. ``At the moment there's nothing that's actually going to increase costs or delay the schedule," Miller said.

With 360 firm orders two years before the first delivery, Boeing says the Dreamliner program has already earned the title of most successful jet launch.

On the defense schedule, Boeing's F-15 and F/A-18 fighters will be on display at the Farnborough Air Show, as will Russia's MiG-29OVT jet, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and Swedish Saab AB's Gripen.

Lockheed Martin Corp. will give an update on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which is scheduled to begin test flights in October.

Raytheon Co. will display Britain's newest spy plane, the Sentinel R1, which adds a sophisticated radar system to a Bombardier Global express business jet.