First flight is almost always the best. Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – June 24, 2016 Do you remember our look at the A 20% More Fuel Efficient Dreamliner takes to the Skies back in the summer of 2011? We are going to experience our first flight aboard Boeing’s Super plane this weekend while on the way to spend the some time getting acquainted with a new vehicle that will reach us this fall. I wish I could say more other than it was on a private test track and it will be truly noteworthy. So how did we get there? Not by boat, that is fore sure! Meet the #United Airlines #Boeing 787-9 #Dreamliner Business Class from LAX to Tokyo-Narita. 10 hours and 36 minutes of efficient Dreamliner bliss. The two hero shots. It was to early and overcast for a good shot at LAX. A panorama of its business class accommodations. Plenty of overhead storage room. #efficient #long #distance #traveler #CleanMPG
Hat of the day goes to #Toyota and their #Prius #Prime #PHEV-22. We were invited to the short lead this fall and it should prove to be a highlight of the 2017 model year introductions. Hint hint.
After a fantastic flight on the Dreamliner, time for a little Japan centric experiences... All aboard the high speed Narita Express to Tokyo with colleagues. And T-Mobile at 2G for free. Really enjoying Japan right now. #Efficient #long #distance #traveler - #CleanMPG
One of the interesting Japanese Restaurant's we have eaten at in Japan... I am not sure what this is but it might be medicinal? #efficient #long #distance #traveler #CleanMPG
One of the 180+ mph Japanese bullet train rides today. According to Wiki, the 700 series is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type built between 1997 and 2006, that entered service in 1999. Originally designated as "N300" during the development phase, they formed the next generation of shinkansen vehicles jointly designed by JR Central and JR West for use on both Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. Yaw dampers are fitted between vehicles, and all cars feature semi-active suspension to ensure smooth ride characteristics at high speed. Compared with the small fleet of high-performance, high-cost 500 series trains built for JR West, these trains were designed to give improved ride comfort and interior ambience over the earlier 300 series trains at a lower cost than the 500 series trains. The cost of a 16-car 700 series unit is approximately 4 billion yen compared with around 5 billion yen for a 16-car 500 series train. Operations - 700 series trainsets are scheduled to be withdrawn from Tokaido Shinkansen services by the end of fiscal 2019. #efficient #long #distance #traveler #CleanMPG
Hi All: Not sure I am smart enough to go to the bathroom here? #Efficient #long #distance #traveler #CleanMPG
Day 2... I thought there would be more Prius Taxi cabs in Japan? This parking lot was full of boxy looking Toyota Crown Comforts. 2.0L I4s with 4-speed ATs and little changed since their intro in 1995. #efficient #long #distance #traveler #CleanMPG
In the bathroom pic, I'd be the guy pushing all the buttons until something fun happens Edit. Is that one of those heated, cooled, auto air freshener, wash and dry toilets?!
Ah oh, this great OEM host who will not allow me to name them in public has gone over the top with today's hotel. After a smashing great day of driving FCVs, HEV's and a world class PHEV in various modes around their test track, we were taken to this. A traditional Japanese resort with a woody fragerance, kimono attired staff, over the top hospitality, and way beyond service is what I am experiencing. An outdoor steam shower and bath, hard or maybe softwood floors, low entryway into each and every room - 5'-6" door frames at best, very low height dining room table, desk and bed, and a feeling of Japanese tradition I could have only imagined from watching movies. The Four Seasons up near TAOS and in Sedona made impressions. This hotel is going to provide a lifetime of memories and discussion. Just WOW!!! And thank you so much OEM to be named later for the very unexpected and much appreciated experience of a lifetime. #efficient #long #distance #traveler #CleanMPG
Last night's dinner... And the fantastic weekend in #Japan continues... A traditional toast of Sake with friends before partaking in a traditional multi-course meal. I had a Coke. Sebastian Blanco, Bengt Halvorson, Craig Cole, Danny Cooper, plus others. #efficient #long #distance #traveler #CleanMPG
Thanks for the plane pics! Last time I flew in one of the big boys was a 747, in '73. Saw "The Sting".
I did the LA to Narita flight a few years ago and spent a week in Yokohama. Jet lag deluxe! I remember the trains well. I had a Japanese friend shepherd me through but I still managed to screw up getting through the toll gates. I remember swarms of young men in suits and ties and polished shoes running at full speed to get from one train to another before it pulled away. No matter where I walked or turned I was always in their way. Plenty of great food in Japan. The Japanese eat very healthy. I never did adjust to having breakfast the main (big) meal of the day. I usually skip it.
Hi All: It is great to be back on U.S. soil but I will miss Japan. A beautiful country and people. Here is the cockpit of the most efficient commercial jet in the sky. That being the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The United Airlines crew stated the plane consumed ~ 110,000 lbs of fuel for the 5,450 mile flight between Narita-Tokyo (NRT) and Los Angeles Intl. (LAX). With a density of ~ 6.7 lb/gal, this equates to .33 mpg and with a compliment of 250 souls on board - max cap is 254, the MPGe per person comes to 83.0 mpg. Not bad for an average speed of 575 mph. I spoke with one of the pilots on the way through cystoms and he said he loves flying the 787 over every other jet. His words: The humidification system and smooth ride at 39k+ ft. really do make for a great flight. Thanks for the ride United Airlines in your fantastic Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. It surely was a dream. Just wish I had a Boeing hat to highlight it properly! #efficient #long #distance #traveler - #CleanMPG
Hi All: I really enjoyed the Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight(s) this weekend as you can tell from the above. Boeing 787 Dreamliner A #GameChanger in no uncertain terms and I cannot wait to fly in others just like it. Imagine the fuel savings going forward with this type of technology spread across the entire Boeing Lineup. Wayne
83 people miles per gallon at 575mph- wow As mentioned before-why bother with that$6 million LIMITED range Honda- 1100 MILES 4 passengers in not much comfort and just 400 mph and I think it was just 25 people miles per gallon why buy a fancy personal jet-if it can't go NON STOP-gotta fuel up every 2.5 hours- Geez-I had heard the japanese were big on HIGH TECH toilets-but too much is too much besides the more fancy gadgets-the more things to break Now I would like to have a genuine samurai sword-and one of those composite bows- of course I would have to "chop and shoot" them How did people that short pull such a powerful bow-it must have a draw length roughly like a Brit long bow?? Maybe they get it past their ear-then push forward to get more draw?? Oh well I'm going sideways- but at least not in a political rant crank way Poor Turkey they have their problems-air port slaughter Wayne how is the security at those Japanese air ports?? They have no dog in the current middle east usa europe unpleasantness -but they have plenty of USA travelers do they have submachine gun toting cops??
Cuz there's more rich dude's who can afford $6million for the Honda than mega-rich dudes who can swing $ 19.3 jillion for the Dreamliner. Either way, rich dudes don't sweat the PMPG.
