Boeing aims to fly 787 on Dec. 15

Published 8:15 pm Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Boeing Co. is aiming to put its delayed 787 jet in the air on Dec. 15, weather permitting, the company said late Thursday.

The company said earlier on Thursday that its Dreamliner had successfully cleared several tests required before first flight. Late in the day, Boeing confirmed that it hopes to fly its 787 at 10 a.m., Tuesday, pending approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The 787 needs to go through taxi testing before first flight. Weather also could play a factor in determining when the delayed Dreamliner will fly.

“We are pleased with the pace of progress in preparing to enter our flight test program,” said Scott Fancher, Boeing’s vice president of the 787 program.

In June, Boeing pushed back the first flight of its delayed 787 Dreamliner after finding a structural weakness in the jet’s side.

Boeing employees devised a fix for the 787. The modifications were installed in mid-November. Boeing put the Dreamliner through tests to make sure the changes will work in flight.

The company wrapped up its “static” test on the Dreamliner on Nov. 30. During the test, the wing and trailing edges of the airframe were subjected to the highest loads expected to be seen in service. After reviewing the results from that test, Boeing announced Thursday that the 787 had passed.

Boeing also put the 787 through two days of rigorous tests meant to trick the Dreamliner into performing like it’s in flight. Those tests were successful, Boeing said.

“We are very pleased with the results of this final functional testing,” Fancher said. “With the successful completion of static testing and this functional testing, our focus now moves to first flight.”

To meet its Dec. 15 first flight goal, the 787 will need some help from Mother Nature in the Puget Sound region.

In order to clear the 787 for its first flight, there will need to be good visibility, no standing water on the runway and gentle to no wind, said Yvonne Leach, spokeswoman for the 787 program.

The Dreamliner will take off from Everett’s Paine Field and land at Boeing Field in Seattle.

Boeing plans to deliver the first of its fuel-efficient 787s in the fourth quarter of 2010, more than two years behind schedule. There are 840 Dreamliner jets on order.