ZA001 is progressing toward, but has not yet begun, the factory gauntlet, according to sources familiar with the progress. The aircraft has been jacked up recently and has been undergoing gear swing and flap extension and retraction testing. The aircraft is cordoned off for testing and there are fewer people around the aircraft than in previous weeks.
Other program sources indicate that the start of the factory gauntlet should begin later this week, but roll out to the flight line appears to have slipped until after the aircraft is declared shop complete later this month following the tests.
The first set of production 787 wings arrived in Everett on April 14th painted white and were unloaded early in the evening from the LCF. They were first seen painted in Japan over the summer and are lighter than the previous six pairs that arrived for the flight test aircraft due to incorporated weight savings and the lack of flight test equipment packed inside. The aft fuselage could also be arriving in Everett as early as week’s end as well.
In addition, airplane seven (JA801A), which will be the first Dreamliner delivered to All Nippon Airways, now wears the internal designation of ZA100 instead of ZA007. The change came after the delivery order shifted early 787s to the Japanese airline.
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This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.