In advance of tomorrow morning’s Boeing 787 Program Update, a Flightblogger-style program update is now available. Different from previous updates, this post provides visual context for understanding where the program currently stands. Below is an image depicting the rough locations of the three airframes currently being assembled in Washington, and is accurate as of December 10, 2007. This page will feature liveblogged coverage of the conference call on the morning of December 11 (10 AM ET, 7 AM PT, 1500 GMT) so please feel free to come by, leave your comments and questions for the 787 leadership.
Dreamliner One – ZA001
Structural work has largely concluded on Dreamliner One and installation of insulation blankets began on the forward part of the aircraft in Section 43 on December 3rd. ZA001 remains at position three in Building 40-26. Doors three and four have not yet been reinstalled following their removal just after the July 8th rollout. Electronics racks in the airframe have also been installed in the cargo bay and the airframe is still largely surrounded by scaffolding.
Power on is still planned to take place on or before January 24th. Early February is slated for the second rollout/factory completion of Dreamliner One. At that time the first flying 787 is expected to move to the flight line where it will be prepared for its first flight. The aircraft is expected to achieve flight readiness by the end of February in preparation for a first flight on or before the 31st of March 2008.
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Original Image Courtesy of Boeing
Edited by Flightblogger to reflect current status
This post was originally published to the internet between 2007 and 2012. Links, images, and embedded media from that era may no longer function as intended.
This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.