The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been under public scrutiny ever since Boeing announced it was moving ahead with the development of its first all-new airplane since the launch of the 777.

In Boeing 787 Dreamliner (Zenith Press, $30), Guy Norris and Mark Wagner take the reader through the creation of this innovative airliner. Built out of plastic reinforced with carbon fiber, the super lightweight passenger jet is to be the replacement plane for the world’s aging fleets of 767s and 757s, and their Airbus competitors.

Smaller and more fuel-efficient than the Airbus A380 — and offering accessibility to regional airports that cannot handle the huge Airbus — the Dreamliner is the plane that Boeing pins its hopes on for continued success over the next two decades.

With an unprecedented number of early orders for the 787, it looked like Boeing had hit a home run before the first plane rolled off the assembly line. Unfortunately, the company ran into some unexpected production turbulence with this cutting-edge aircraft, and a series of problems postponed the rollout of the new plane.

The present worldwide recession has exacerbated the problems of the Dreamliner’s introduction into service, but when it does finally begin flying commercially, it promises to have a major impact on the aviation industry.

Featuring numerous color photos and diagrams, this highly informative book traces the decade-long story of the 787 from its earliest roots to the start of flight testing. The authors discuss not only the design challenges that the Boeing engineers faced but also the advanced systems and new technology that the aircraft features.

The accessible and readable text makes this volume one that anyone interested in commercial aviation can understand. If you want the inside scoop on the 787 Dreamliner program, this is a book you’ll want to read.