Just a little more than six months have passed since that cold December day when the Boeing Co.’s first 787 barreled down the runway for its maiden flight.
Since then, the 787 has gone a long ways — literally. The program reached 1,000 hours in flight last Wednesday. But it still has much to do before Boeing can make its first 787 delivery by year’s end.
Boeing’s first 787 took its maiden flight from Everett’s Paine Field on Dec. 15 after more than two years of delays. Since then, Boeing has added four 787s to flight testing, including the first with General Electric GEnX engines last week, for a total of five 787s flying.
Altogether the fleet has logged roughly 1,000 flight hours in 300 flights and visited a dozen locations including Eglin Air Force Base in Florida; Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport; Glasgow Industrial Airport in Montana.
In April, Boeing received type inspection authorization on the 787-8, which allowed Federal Aviation Administration members to accompany Boeing on flights. Besides that step, Boeing also has crossed off several milestones including clearing wing and fuselage stress-testing, extreme weather testing and engine-stall tests.
But Boeing officials acknowledged last month that the 787 test airplanes haven’t flown as many hours as expected, though the test flights are more productive than anticipated. Jim Albaugh, president of commercial airplanes, estimated that each of the 787 flight test aircraft needs to log 90 hours of flight time each month for Boeing to gain FAA certification and deliver the aircraft this year.
Boeing plans to fly the third 787 over the North Pole on the way to the Farnborough International Air Show next month, said Mike Carriker, chief 787 pilot. And Boeing’s sixth flight test 787 is expected to join the fleet this month.
Here’s a look back at 787 flight test milestones so far, with links to previous stories:
May
Boeing conducts 787 tests in Colorado.
Boeing conducts GE engine runs on 787.
Boeing puts 787 through deep freeze in Florida.
April
Boeing reaches 787 milestone with FAA.
Boeing declares 787 wing test a success.
March
Boeing adds a fourth 787 to flight testing.
February
Third 787 jet enters flight testing.
January
Boeing conducts 787 stall testing.
December
Second 787 takes flight.
For more on 787 flight testing, visit: 787flighttest.com/.
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