PARIS — According to multiple sources, Boeing has identified Tuesday, June 30th for 787 first flight.
However, program sources indicate that the timeline laid out by Boeing represent
a zero-margin plan to achieve first flight by the close of the month,
and say milestones could occur earlier than planned.
The June 30th target also represents the last day of Boeing’s quarter long window of achieving first flight, before it slips into the second quarter of 2009.
The schedule has ZA001 preparing for the final gauntlet during the coming week, followed by at least two days of final gauntlet testing early next week.
At the conclusion of the final gauntlet, Boeing will further inspect ZA001 in preparation for the 787s first roll under its own power with taxi tests late next week and into the weekend. Once again, ZA001 will undergo its final top-to-bottom, wingtip to wingtip inspection before its first flight which is tentatively schedule for the last day of the month at 10 o’clock in the morning Pacific time.
On June 12, Boeing installed the trailing static pressure cone to calibrate the static air pressure error of the aircraft’s pitot-static system during flight. The cone generally trails the aircraft 1 to 1.5 times the length of the wingspan. The system is required by Part 91 of the FAR “where precision flight calibrations are used to quantify or verify altimetry system performance.”
According to Aviation Week, report that tests conducted this
past weekend were expected to include checks of the 787’s stall warning
system as well as the interface between the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and
its electronic engine control (EEC) system. Adding that additional fuel system verification tests on ZA001 set for today.
PRODUCTION RAMP UPDATE
Boeing and its supplier partners have agreed to remove all traveled work from the 787 supply chain by Airplane 14, said Alenia North America’s chief executive Giuseppe Giordo.
In addition, Giordo also confirmed the 300 day flow of center fuselage sections through Global Aeronautica in Charleston, SC and that the company was working to reduce that number.
Steve Trimble also contributed to this report
UPDATE: Boeing Commercial Airplane CEO Scott Carson said today that the first
flight window is now open and expects the first 787 to fly within the
next two weeks by the close of the month.
***Editor’s Note: Relocated Scott
Carson comment. Mr. Carson commented only that first flight would
happen by the close of the month and not during the Paris Air Show. Any
additional information comes directly from program sources.
Photo Credit Jim Larsen
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This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.