Boeing 747-8 reaches flight test milestone
Thursday, March 11, 2010 | 6:44 am
The Boeing Co.'s 747-8 Freighter has completed initial airworthiness testing -- an early milestone in flight testing.
As a result, Boeing flight test engineers can be on board and the remaining two flight test 747-8s can enter flight. Boeing hopes to deliver its first 747-8 Freighter later this year.
"The airplane is performing as expected in the initial stages of flight test," said Mo Yahyavi, general manager of Boeing's 747 program. "That's a tribute to the men and women who helped design and build this airplane."
Since the first flight in early February, the aircraft has been on 13 flights and logged in 33 hours of flight. Pilots have taken the airplane to an altitude of 30,000 feet and a speed of Mach .65. Initial stall tests and other dynamic maneuvers have been run, as well as an extensive checkout of the airplane's systems.
"This is a critical milestone in our test and certification plan," said Andy Hammer, test program manager for the 747-8. "With the addition of the other two airplanes in the near future, the test program will ramp up significantly."
In the weeks ahead, the 747-8 Freighter will reach an altitude of more than 43,000 feet and a speed of Mach .97. Boeing will conduct roughly 3,700 hours of testing on its 747-8 Freighters before delivering the first jumbo jet in the fourth quarter.
Boeing has won 76 orders for its new 747-8 Freighter.
As a result, Boeing flight test engineers can be on board and the remaining two flight test 747-8s can enter flight. Boeing hopes to deliver its first 747-8 Freighter later this year.
"The airplane is performing as expected in the initial stages of flight test," said Mo Yahyavi, general manager of Boeing's 747 program. "That's a tribute to the men and women who helped design and build this airplane."
Since the first flight in early February, the aircraft has been on 13 flights and logged in 33 hours of flight. Pilots have taken the airplane to an altitude of 30,000 feet and a speed of Mach .65. Initial stall tests and other dynamic maneuvers have been run, as well as an extensive checkout of the airplane's systems.
"This is a critical milestone in our test and certification plan," said Andy Hammer, test program manager for the 747-8. "With the addition of the other two airplanes in the near future, the test program will ramp up significantly."
In the weeks ahead, the 747-8 Freighter will reach an altitude of more than 43,000 feet and a speed of Mach .97. Boeing will conduct roughly 3,700 hours of testing on its 747-8 Freighters before delivering the first jumbo jet in the fourth quarter.
Boeing has won 76 orders for its new 747-8 Freighter.
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