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Boeing: 787 on flight line, ready for final ground tests before first flight
Tuesday May 5, 2009
Boeing said the first 787 test aircraft has been moved to the flight line and will begin a "phase of extensive checks" with fuel testing starting later this week, and reiterated that first flight will be achieved by the end of the current quarter.
"We are making great progress and moving ever-closer to first flight," 787 Program VP and GM Scott Fancher stated. The company said it completed "a rigorous series of tests" on test aircraft ZA001 in recent weeks, including build verification tests, structures and systems integration tests, landing gear swings and "factory gauntlet, which is the full simulation of the first flight using the actual airplane." Fancher said the test results "give us confidence in our ability to move into further gauntlet testing using either ground power or the airplane's engines or auxiliary power unit."
The beginning of final ground testing on ZA001 comes as further doubts are being raised regarding the manufacturer's ability gain FAA type certification within 8.5-9 months of first flight to begin delivering Dreamliners in the 2010 first quarter. New York-based Bernstein Research has warned that 787 customers face delivery delays of up to an additional six months.
787 VP and Chief Project Engineer Mike Delaney said during a briefing last week that the remaining ground tests required before first flight will be conducted "in the same [time] window" as previous aircraft programs.
Director-Flight Test Operations Frank Rasor said during the same briefing that systems tests being done as a "precursor to flying have gone well." He noted that because the 787 is a "smart airplane" with highly computerized, interconnected systems, "it's a little harder to test" than previous Boeing models in terms of simulating flight conditions on the ground. "It's not as easy to trick the airplane on the ground that it's actually flying," he explained. "This airplane being an interactive network [means] you need all the boxes talking. . .for the airplane to think it's in the air."
Boeing said it completed the final required structural test on April 21 when the wing and trailing edges were subjected to their limit loads. Following fuel tests, ZA001 "will undergo additional airplane power and systems tests as well as engine runs," the companyg said. "After completing final systems checks and high-speed taxi tests, the airplane will be ready for first flight."
by Aaron Karp
ATWOnline
Tuesday May 5, 2009
Boeing said the first 787 test aircraft has been moved to the flight line and will begin a "phase of extensive checks" with fuel testing starting later this week, and reiterated that first flight will be achieved by the end of the current quarter.
"We are making great progress and moving ever-closer to first flight," 787 Program VP and GM Scott Fancher stated. The company said it completed "a rigorous series of tests" on test aircraft ZA001 in recent weeks, including build verification tests, structures and systems integration tests, landing gear swings and "factory gauntlet, which is the full simulation of the first flight using the actual airplane." Fancher said the test results "give us confidence in our ability to move into further gauntlet testing using either ground power or the airplane's engines or auxiliary power unit."
The beginning of final ground testing on ZA001 comes as further doubts are being raised regarding the manufacturer's ability gain FAA type certification within 8.5-9 months of first flight to begin delivering Dreamliners in the 2010 first quarter. New York-based Bernstein Research has warned that 787 customers face delivery delays of up to an additional six months.
787 VP and Chief Project Engineer Mike Delaney said during a briefing last week that the remaining ground tests required before first flight will be conducted "in the same [time] window" as previous aircraft programs.
Director-Flight Test Operations Frank Rasor said during the same briefing that systems tests being done as a "precursor to flying have gone well." He noted that because the 787 is a "smart airplane" with highly computerized, interconnected systems, "it's a little harder to test" than previous Boeing models in terms of simulating flight conditions on the ground. "It's not as easy to trick the airplane on the ground that it's actually flying," he explained. "This airplane being an interactive network [means] you need all the boxes talking. . .for the airplane to think it's in the air."
Boeing said it completed the final required structural test on April 21 when the wing and trailing edges were subjected to their limit loads. Following fuel tests, ZA001 "will undergo additional airplane power and systems tests as well as engine runs," the companyg said. "After completing final systems checks and high-speed taxi tests, the airplane will be ready for first flight."
by Aaron Karp
ATWOnline
