Is Boeing 787’s first flight in sight?

Published 2:04 pm Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Boeing is inching ever closer to flying its 787 Dreamliner for the first time.

FlightBlogger reported that Boeing wrapped up the factory gauntlet test on the 787 yesterday.

Yvonne Leach, Boeing spokeswoman, confirms the report.

“Everything went very well,” she said.

Boeing is conducting gear swing tests today on the first Dreamliner. The company has a few more tests to complete before moving the plane out of the factory, she said. The first Dreamliner will move to the flight line “when she’s ready,” Leach said.

In this report, Aviation Week gives a breakdown of the remaining milestones to first flight.

Boeing still isn’t giving a window for first flight except “before the end of June” or, as Leach said, “when she’s ready.”

Despite progress on the 787, some analysts remain unconvinced Boeing will meet its first delivery estimate of first quarter 2010, according to this report.

Perhaps we’ll find out more tomorrow when Boeing reports its first quarter earnings.

Other thoughts on first flight: Boeing’s Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing for BCA, just posted this commentary about first flight coverage.