July 2021 Progress Update: AV400’s New Boeing 787 Mould Sample in 1:400 Scale

Thanks to Aviation400 for providing me with these exclusive photos.

I’ve reported on the new AV400 Boeing 787 several times now and it appears the mould is effectively finished and ready for production judging by the latest photos below, although I’m told the first models probably won’t be ready until near the end of the year (I believe Covid restrictions in the factory area have delayed it somewhat).

For previous posts on the topic of the AV400 787 see these two videos:

The new photos show the completed mould for the Boeing 787-9 cast in dark grey. There don’t appear to be any significant changes to the mould shown in the photos from March aside from that the nosegear is now properly fitted and so the nosegear doors are more appropriately sized.

Steve Lynes from Sandshurst, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
玄史生, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Aviation400 also provided me with a couple of very short videos showing the spinning fanblades and moveable maingear bogies:

New York-air, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

As I understand it the first releases will be announced on the new mould soon but won’t hit the market until near the end of the year, with the other 787 versions to follow in 2022.