787

Something tells me that 2007 will go down as the watershed year for technological innovation.

Just as I was getting over the goosebumps of looking at the iPhone, of raving on how 'cool' it was to have a feather-touch phone, Boeing, the airplane guys, have come out with a feather-touch plane. That's right. A feather-touch aircraft.

Although, I am awestruck everytime I see a aircraft fly (seriously, isn't it cool to see a mammoth metal contraption flying?), my experiences travelling in one have been less that pleasant (I ended up sleeping for two straight days after my travel back home last month. The flight was cramped, smelly and exhausting)

And therefore I am happy that atleast someone took notice and did something about it. 

The Boeing 787 was launched on 7-8-7(hope those guys will not take the number game too seriously, else our desi astrologers will be motivated to ask Boeing to add an extra 'o' or 'i' to its name so that it can enlist the support of rahu and ketu in its battle for the skies with Airbus)

This aircraft is like the iPhone of commercial avaition. First up, its launch was eagerly awaited for months now. And even before Boeing built the damn thing, they sold 660 odd such planes for over $100 billion. Then comes yesterday's launch. Broad/Pod-casting to over 100 million people in over 45 countries, Boeing unveiled its baby on a misty morning in Seattle.

And its totally worth the hype. Some things that knocked me off:

1. The huge windows - that extend over the height of the seat 

2. The teeny-tiny feather-touch button that can tint the window. Yes, no more window shutters to pull down :)

3. Roomy seats. Just like a pod in one of those space-ships

4. Seat operated climate and light control 

4. Awesome lighting and entertainment options

5. Other cool stuff like a composite body, a cleaner and more efficient engine and stuff.

Its called the Dreamliner.