Guest Chainsaw Posted August 1, 2007 Posted August 1, 2007 Updated: July 31, 2007 - 1:00 AM EDT (Updates in blue)Following the on-time roll out of the first Dreamliner, the 787 team will be switching gears to prepare the aircraft for its first flight during the early fall of 2007. This page will track the progress of final systems installation and pre-flight testing of ZA001 as it prepares to take to the skies for the first time. Photo Courtesy Charles Conklin Part 1: Where in the world is the 787 Dreamliner? - Last Update May 16, 2007 - Tracked the arrival of all the major 787 components to Everett. Part 2: Building the Dreamliner - Last Update July 5, 2007 - Followed the final assembly and roll out to the paint shop Please enjoy the archive of these posts to provide a great deal of detailed background on how the Dreamliner arrived to this point in its young life.The first two parts in the series are now considered closed and will not be updated. Key Tests on Dreamliner One prior to first flight 'Gauntlet' Test The 787 will be hooked up to an external computer to simulate every imaginable failure. The aircraft software will take its first flight and will be "fooled" into thinking it is flying. 'Wag the Dog' Test The flight test team will test and measure the "equal and opposite reaction" of all of the moving parts on the exterior of the aircraft to see the structural effect on Dreamliner One. High Blow Test In order to test the pressure seals, the cabin will be pressurized to 14.2 PSI simulating maximum possible pressure inside the aircraft. Note that the 787 will be pressurized to an altitude of 6000 feet versus 8000 feet of aircraft currently in service. High / Low Speed Taxi Tests High and low speed taxi tests will demonstrate the integrity of the braking system. This test, at its max speed, will take the aircraft right up to just before V1 speed. This will be the last test before first flight, which historically has taken place on the following day. Editor's Note: If I have misrepresented any tests or forgotten any, please let me know. ASSEMBLY UPDATES July 31, 2007 Very little news has come out of Everett in the last ten days regarding the status of Dreamliner One. Systems installation and wiring is proceeding normally. The flight deck, at last check, had not been installed in addition to the engines as well as vertical tail fin. Evergreen crews have assumed full control of the LCFs and are flying training routes with no cargo aboard. Boeing announced that the first flight of the 787 would not take place until the later part of September. Boeing can comfortably begin the flight test program without any impact on entry in to service, which is planned for May of 2008. If the flight test schedule slips to October or beyond, Boeing is prepared to make necessary arrangements to ensure an on-time EIS. July 21, 2007 LCF1 officially returned to the United States on July 18 in Portland, Oregon where it will undergo final certification tests by the FAA until. It will not fly again until August 2. All parts for the 787 static rig have arrived in Everett and final assembly is underway. The horizontal stabilizer will not be installed on ZY997 and substituted with a pivot joint which will ensure proper testing. This was the same for the 777 program as well. No major assembly components have arrived in Everett since July 11. Assembly of Dreamliner One continues normally toward first flight. July 18, 2007 Final assembly on LN2/ZA002 is expected to begin in late July. LCF1 is expected to return to Everett after a long stay in Taiwan for final modifications. The first flights using LCF2 under the Evergreen call sign were made on July 17 to train Evergreen crews, as well as relocate shipping fixtures. July 13, 2007 Further information has expanded on previously known details: The engines, vertical fin, wing leading edge slats, movable trailing edges, horizontal tail leading edge, elevators, passenger doors No.3 and 4 in aft. fuselage, wing to body faring, and landing gear doors have all been removed as structural work system installation continues on the way towards preparing for first flight. July 12, 2007 Dreamliner One was rolled out of the factory on schedule on July 8, 2007 in Everett, Washington after spending June 26-July 8 in the paint shop across from Building 40-26 where she was assembled. ZA001 was rolled to the 747 assembly line while cleanup in 40-26 occurred. Dreamliner One returned to 40-26 July 9 following the completion of cleanup from the Roll-Out ceremony. Following the return to the factory, LN1 was jacked up again and "a lot of parts have been removed" to make way for systems installations. "A mad dash to first flight is on." There are more than 600 tasks to complete before power on. Currently about 40 tasks are being worked. LN1/ZA001- RR powered and first to fly - All major structures in Everett - Undergoing final assembly, which officially began May 21 - System software v. 6.5 currently being tested. 6.7 to follow shortly. - Will be entering the paint shop around June 25 - Will be delivered to ANA after refurbishment. - Major structure assembly is complete and Dreamliner One was brought to the paint shop on the night of June 26. It is expected to remain in the paint shop until around 2pm on 7/8/07. - Rolled out of 40-26 on the afternoon of July 8. LN9997/ZY997 - no engines, systems, etc. - Static Test frame, Wing Break Test - All sections will be "in house and workable" by July 8. - Wing in production in Japan (photo) - Section 47 and 48 developed in SC. (photo) - Section 43, 45, 44 (photo) /46 delivered to Everett July 3. - Section 41 delivered to Everett July 3 (Production photo photo, photo 2) - Tail fin and rudder now in assembly bay in Everett. - Wings arrived in Everett from Japan on the morning of July 7. - Section 47/48 arrived in Everett on July 11. - Currently undergoing assembly in the rear of Building 40-26. - All fuselage sections have been joined and the wings have been mated. LN2/ZA002 - RR powered and test flight - Section 43 and 11/45 arrived in Charleston on June 28. - Section 44 and 46 arrived in Charleston from Italy on June 26. - Wing in production in Japan (photo) - Section 41 currently production in KS. (photo) - Will be delivered to ANA after refurbishment. - Final assembly is expected to begin toward the end of July. LN9998/ZY998 - No engines, systems, etc. Fatigue test airframe. - Section 48 currently in production in SC. (photo) LN3/ZA003 - RR powered and test flight - Section 41 currently production in KS. (photo) - Will be delivered to Northwest after refurbishment. LN4/ZA004 - RR powered and test flight - Section 41 currently production in KS. (photo, photo 2) - Will be delivered to Northwest after refurbishment. - Section 41 in production in KS. (photo) LN5/ZA005 - GE powered and test flight - Section 41 currently production in KS. (photo) - Will be delivered to Royal Air Maroc after refurbishment. LN6/ZA006 - GE powered and test flight - Section 41 currently production in KS. (photo) - Will be delivered to Royal Air Maroc after refurbishment. LN7/ZA007 - First to be delivered to ANA. LN8/ZA008 - First to be delivered to Air China. http://flightblogger.blogspot.com/
Uncle Chop Chop Posted August 16, 2007 Posted August 16, 2007 Great Site Chainy. I can hardly wait fr the 1st Flight. If the 1st flight was big for the A380, I can only imagine how big it will be for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Guest Chainsaw Posted August 16, 2007 Posted August 16, 2007 Not necessarily bigger, but better. I reckon there will be less families and 'hangeronners' but plenty of hardcore spotters. The media will not make such a big thing of it, thankfully.
Guest PaulR Posted August 17, 2007 Posted August 17, 2007 Boeing will want a large media presents there. Unfortunately, I imagine it will involve that annoying, swaying, pontificating pommy twit from CNNi (or is it BBC). I was in New Zealand when I watched (on TV) the A380 take-off and land. Hopefully I am in the comfort of my own home to witness the 787.
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