Boeing finishes 787 wing test, awaits results for first flight

Published 6:36 pm Monday, November 30, 2009

The Boeing Co. has completed a significant test on its delayed 787 jet and is waiting results to clear the Dreamliner for its first flight.

In June, Boeing announced a last-minute delay to the first flight of its 787 Dreamliner citing a structural weakness in the area where the jet’s wings and body join.

Boeing called the weakness a design flaw and devised a fix. Workers in Everett finished installing the modification on the first, second and static test 787s earlier this month. On Monday, the company concluded a test on the wing area that will determine whether the modification worked.

The company said it will take up to 10 days for the test results to be finished.

“Today’s test was an important milestone for the program. We will confirm the test results after the completion of our detailed analysis,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program.

Boeing officials have promised that the 787 will fly by the end of the year with the first delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2010.