What’s up with Dreamliner One?
Aviation Week, Flight’s able competitor, reported last week on the start of pre-pre-flight tests for ZA001:
Despite the strike, Boeing’s flight-test engineers are planning to start pre-flight tests on ZA001’s air data system around Oct. 8. The tests will focus on the probes for the Honeywell system, which is configured with six remotely located air data modules. Data from the sensors will be relayed to the air data computational software hosted on the GE Aviation common core computing system.
Tests on the air data system follow the completion of the high-blow milestone. “As we expected, the structure stood up to the pressure with no issues–a real testament to the composite technology on board the airplane,” says a company statement. “We have to complete two more static tests before first flight–one on the leading edges and one on the trailing edges.”
Signs of Movement
The Seattle PI reports that Boeing and the IAM have been in secret talks since late last week. I’m not about to jump to conclusions, but this is a darn good sign. The fact that they’re talking is progress, so hopefully they are on the road that leads to the road that gets to the off ramp of a resolution to this strike.
Everett photographer Matt Cawby caught a rare mid-day move of the fourth (of eight) TAM 777-300ER to the paint shop yesterday. The day the strike began, that aircraft was closest to the door with the first Qatar 777-200LR following right behind. This is the first high-rate aircraft to leave the Everett factory for the paint shop since the strike began five weeks ago.
A340 GTF First Flight?
Airbus’s F-WWCA, the first A340-600, was spotting doing taxi tests with
the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G tucked neatly under its wing last week
in Toulouse. Those tests are a precursor to the commencement of the 2nd
phase of flight testing for the geared turbofan demonstrator engine. The engine was seen Saturday wrapped up like a Christmas stocking
with a bright red cover. This shot by photographer David Barrie (and friend of this
blog) really captures the size comparison between the
PW1000G and the other three Trent 500 engines.
Iraqi Airways Fleet Revival
The once robust Iraqi Airways fleet that was decimated by years of sanctions and conflict has finally seen its first new aircraft in a VERY long time. A beautiful Bombardier CRJ-900 (test reg. C-FULE, sn 15189) in the new blue livery was spotted last week in Canada. The aircraft will become YI-AQA.
Movie Monday
In honor of Columbus Day (either a day off for you or a slow day at your office) I present two hours of fighter jet competition. Nova’s Battle of the X-Planes is an extraordinary peek into the world of the competition for the Joint Strike Fighter contract that was awarded to Lockheed Martin. Enjoy!
For more coverage of the Joint Strike Fighter program, check out Steve Trimble’s The DEW Line.
I’m taking a vacation!
I haven’t really had a vacation for about 13 months, so I decided it’s time to skip town. I’ll be off Thursday, Friday and Monday. Not to worry, I’ll have fresh content up and scheduled for posting while I’m gone. I will be 110% unreachable. Laptop is staying at home and the iPhone is going off.
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.