The 787, the first new plane by Boeing since 1995, will be the world's first large commercial plane made mostly of carbon-fiber composites—materials that are lighter and less prone to corrosion than aluminum.

Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney said the 787 will be a "dramatic improvement in air travel: to make it more affordable, comfortable, and convenient for passengers; more efficient and profitable for airlines; and more environmentally progressive for our Earth", the Associated Press reported.

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