[Shameel Kumar]

Originally Posted by Ash W

It must kill them that it was first painted on the 787 which is yet to get even close to the sky, yet here we have several others already flying. Nothing to do with the delay, more to do with the fact it hasn't even flown yet and not likley to fly for a while yet.

I'm not too sure what you're trying to get at here Ash W?

Yes the 787 was the reason why Boeing created this new fantastics looking Dreamliner livery (or Boeing House Colour to appease you)...and yes we first saw this livery on computer-generated images of the 7E7 which has now become the 787... but, it was never the plan that the first physical aircraft to be painted in the Dreamliner livery was the first 787 produced.

Important dates of Boeing aircraft painted in the 'Dreamliner/House Colour' livery:
787 Roll Out: July 8, 2007 (Boeing met this date as originally planned)
Lion Air 737-900ER delivery: April 27, 2007
777-200LR first flight: March 8, 2005
China Airlines 747-400 delivery: December 7, 2004
Ryanair 737-800 delivery: October 1, 2004
Air Berlin 737-700 delivery: May 18, 2004

It's pretty obvious to see that it was never Boeing's plan to have the 787 as the first Boeing aircraft to feature the new Dreamliner/House Colour livery.... so no, I don't think it's killing them that all these other Boeing aircraft are flying around in the Dreamliner livery while the 787 still is yet to get in the air, because that wasnever the plan.

If anything, by having all these other Boeing aircraft flying around in the Dreamliner livery, Boeing is creating even more buzz and awareness of the 787 because that paintscheme is synonymous with the 787 Dreamliner.
Also, by naming this new livery the 'Dreamliner' livery eventhough it's being featured on aircraft other than the 787 provides a halo-effect benefit for the other Boeing aircraft because they have a visible link with the 787, and therefore benefit from the futuristic, advanced technology, next-generation connotations that the media has tagged onto the 787.
Same reason why everyday car company's still create exciting performance cars.. because eventhough those sports cars don't provide a great return on investment in dollar figures, they enhance brand's image and intangible value, and this improvement in the brand's image is transcended onto all the vehicles in their line-up.