Boeing has finally delivered its new 787 Dreamliner to All Nippon Airways of Japan, more than three years after the firms’ initial agreed-upon delivery date. Its tardiness shouldn’t discount the fact that it’s a technological tour de force.The 787 is made of composites rather than aluminum, which makes it far lighter than competitors. That’s good for a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption. For a midsize plane – it will most commonly hold 210-290 people, depending on configuration – that fuel efficiency both saves costs and gives the plane a 15,700 mile range, which is comparable to much large jumbo jets.That range, which is about 30 percent longer than similarly-sized planes, means the 787 can make flights from Japan to Europe or the US. Those trips were formerly the sole realm of larger planes, and having a smaller plane with that capability gives cash-strapped airlines more flexibility in scheduling.