Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Watch the 60 minute Nebula version here: https://nebula.app/videos/real-engineering-the-insane-engineering-of-the-787
Sign up to Nebula here: go.nebula.tv/realengineering
Links to everything I do:
beacons.ai/brianmcmanus
Credits:
Writer/Narrator: Brian McManus
Co-Writer: Sophia Mayet
Editor: Dylan Hennessy
Animator: Mike Ridolfi
Sound: Graham Haerther
References:
[1] seattletimes.com/business/boeing-celebrates-787-delivery-as-programs-costs-top-32-billion
[2] discovercomposites.com/transportation/commercial-aircraft/.
[3] twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-a-composite-material#WhataretheAdvantagesofCompositeMaterials
[4] flightglobal.com/analysis-boeing-matches-787-cabin-pressure-in-777x-cabin-revamp/113926.article#:~:text=That%20formula%20has%20changed%20slightly,pressure%20altitude%20of%20the%20777.
[5] engineeringtoolbox.com/air-altitude-pressure-d_462.html
[6] https://yenaengineering.nl/what-is-metal-fatigue/
[7] boeing.com/features/2019/12/787-1st-flight-anniversary-12-19.page
[8] https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA160718.pdf
[9] flightglobal.com/787-design-highlights-systems-and-materials/102094.article
[10] This reference provides “ultimate elongation at failure”, but carbon fibre doesn’t really have a plastic zone, the fibres just break. 3937524.app.netsuite.com/core/media/media.nl?id=172313&c=3937524&h=dab869f57f81854c6a97&_xt=.pdf
[11] https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA506416.pdf
[12] boeing.mediaroom.com/2010-03-28-Boeing-Completes-Ultimate-Load-Wing-Test-on-787
[13] boeing.com/commercial/787/by-design/#/smooth-wing-technology
[14] galexander.org/dreamliner.html
[15] books.google.com/books?id=iLwfAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA2-PA4&lpg=RA2-PA4&dq=:+low+aspect+ratios+have+a+greater+useful+internal+volume&source=bl&ots=78TvsnttaO&sig=ACfU3U3_VTRvs5rcomQBn79CMxBXaZ1sCw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjp0pX62IvyAhXOQs0KHemPBWUQ6AEwE3oECCMQAw#v=onepage&q=%3A%20low%20aspect%20ratios%20have%20a%20greater%20useful%20internal%20volume&f=false
[16] Page 274 sciencedirect.com/book/9780123973085/general-aviation-aircraft-design
[17] research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/218682887/Final_Copy_2019_11_28_Othman_M_PhD.pdf
[18] sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/hybrid-laminar-flow-control
[19] Page 15 ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19990052585/downloads/19990052585.pdf
[20] flightglobal.com/farnborough-aero-secrets-of-boeings-new-dreamliner/113955.article
[21] corrosionpedia.com/galvanic-corrosion-of-metals-connected-to-carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymers/2/1556
[22] https://digitalcommons.du.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2120&context=etd
[23] corrosionpedia.com/an-introduction-to-the-galvanic-series-galvanic-compatibility-and-corrosion/2/1403
[24] wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304361604579292333739357034
[25] reuters.com/article/us-boeing-787-titanium-insight/boeing-looks-at-pricey-titanium-in-bid-to-stem-787-losses-idUSKCN0PY1PL20150724
[26a] norsktitanium.com
[26b] businesswire.com/news/home/20170410005330/en/Norsk-Titanium-to-Deliver-the-World%E2%80%99s-First-FAA-Approved-3D-Printed-Structural-Titanium-Components-to-Boein
[27] sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452321616304139
[28] sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352492818301740
[29] airinsight.com/boeing-787-grounded-week-lightning-strike
[30] reports.aviation-safety.net/1963/19631208-0_B701_N709PA.pdf
[31] seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/faa-engineers-objected-to-boeings-removal-of-some-787-lightning-protection-measures
[32] emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779fad.007/full/html
[33] boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/articles/qtr_4_07/article_02_3.html.
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images
Music by Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.com/creator
Thank you to my patreon supporters: Adam Flohr, Henning Basma, Hank Green, William Leu, Tristan Edwards, Ian Dundore, John & Becki Johnston. Nevin Spoljaric, Jason Clark, Thomas Barth, Johnny MacDonald, Stephen Foland, Alfred Holzheu, Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Binghaith, Brent Higgins, Dexter Appleberry, Alex Pavek, Marko Hirsch, Mikkel Johansen, Hibiyi Mori. Viktor Józsa, Ron Hochsprung
Watch the 60 minute Nebula version here: https://nebula.app/videos/real-engineering-the-insane-engineering-of-the-787
Sign up to Nebula here: go.nebula.tv/realengineering
Links to everything I do:
beacons.ai/brianmcmanus
Credits:
Writer/Narrator: Brian McManus
Co-Writer: Sophia Mayet
Editor: Dylan Hennessy
Animator: Mike Ridolfi
Sound: Graham Haerther
References:
[1] seattletimes.com/business/boeing-celebrates-787-delivery-as-programs-costs-top-32-billion
[2] discovercomposites.com/transportation/commercial-aircraft/.
[3] twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-a-composite-material#WhataretheAdvantagesofCompositeMaterials
[4] flightglobal.com/analysis-boeing-matches-787-cabin-pressure-in-777x-cabin-revamp/113926.article#:~:text=That%20formula%20has%20changed%20slightly,pressure%20altitude%20of%20the%20777.
[5] engineeringtoolbox.com/air-altitude-pressure-d_462.html
[6] https://yenaengineering.nl/what-is-metal-fatigue/
[7] boeing.com/features/2019/12/787-1st-flight-anniversary-12-19.page
[8] https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA160718.pdf
[9] flightglobal.com/787-design-highlights-systems-and-materials/102094.article
[10] This reference provides “ultimate elongation at failure”, but carbon fibre doesn’t really have a plastic zone, the fibres just break. 3937524.app.netsuite.com/core/media/media.nl?id=172313&c=3937524&h=dab869f57f81854c6a97&_xt=.pdf
[11] https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA506416.pdf
[12] boeing.mediaroom.com/2010-03-28-Boeing-Completes-Ultimate-Load-Wing-Test-on-787
[13] boeing.com/commercial/787/by-design/#/smooth-wing-technology
[14] galexander.org/dreamliner.html
[15] books.google.com/books?id=iLwfAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA2-PA4&lpg=RA2-PA4&dq=:+low+aspect+ratios+have+a+greater+useful+internal+volume&source=bl&ots=78TvsnttaO&sig=ACfU3U3_VTRvs5rcomQBn79CMxBXaZ1sCw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjp0pX62IvyAhXOQs0KHemPBWUQ6AEwE3oECCMQAw#v=onepage&q=%3A%20low%20aspect%20ratios%20have%20a%20greater%20useful%20internal%20volume&f=false
[16] Page 274 sciencedirect.com/book/9780123973085/general-aviation-aircraft-design
[17] research-information.bris.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/218682887/Final_Copy_2019_11_28_Othman_M_PhD.pdf
[18] sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/hybrid-laminar-flow-control
[19] Page 15 ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19990052585/downloads/19990052585.pdf
[20] flightglobal.com/farnborough-aero-secrets-of-boeings-new-dreamliner/113955.article
[21] corrosionpedia.com/galvanic-corrosion-of-metals-connected-to-carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymers/2/1556
[22] https://digitalcommons.du.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2120&context=etd
[23] corrosionpedia.com/an-introduction-to-the-galvanic-series-galvanic-compatibility-and-corrosion/2/1403
[24] wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304361604579292333739357034
[25] reuters.com/article/us-boeing-787-titanium-insight/boeing-looks-at-pricey-titanium-in-bid-to-stem-787-losses-idUSKCN0PY1PL20150724
[26a] norsktitanium.com
[26b] businesswire.com/news/home/20170410005330/en/Norsk-Titanium-to-Deliver-the-World%E2%80%99s-First-FAA-Approved-3D-Printed-Structural-Titanium-Components-to-Boein
[27] sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452321616304139
[28] sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352492818301740
[29] airinsight.com/boeing-787-grounded-week-lightning-strike
[30] reports.aviation-safety.net/1963/19631208-0_B701_N709PA.pdf
[31] seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/faa-engineers-objected-to-boeings-removal-of-some-787-lightning-protection-measures
[32] emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779fad.007/full/html
[33] boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/articles/qtr_4_07/article_02_3.html.
Select imagery/video supplied by Getty Images
Music by Epidemic Sound: epidemicsound.com/creator
Thank you to my patreon supporters: Adam Flohr, Henning Basma, Hank Green, William Leu, Tristan Edwards, Ian Dundore, John & Becki Johnston. Nevin Spoljaric, Jason Clark, Thomas Barth, Johnny MacDonald, Stephen Foland, Alfred Holzheu, Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Binghaith, Brent Higgins, Dexter Appleberry, Alex Pavek, Marko Hirsch, Mikkel Johansen, Hibiyi Mori. Viktor Józsa, Ron Hochsprung
