The level of completion is virtually 100% at this point. Ship date:
June 19.
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This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.
UPDATE 3 – 5:25 AM – 6/12:
WICHITA, KS — Just feet behind the football field sized door of Building 40-26 at Boeing’s Everett, Washington facility, a small group of program staff Wednesday began breathing life into the first 787 Dreamliner.
The aircraft was powered-on for the first time, marking the beginning of a check-out process to validate the systems integration of the 787.
Boeing has confirmed the testing has begun and has issued this statement:
“We’re pleased the process has begun, and we are confident we’ll meet the milestone in June.”
Boeing
added that the power-on process is to last between 10 days and two
weeks and is expected to be completed by the end of the month.
At the most recent delay announcement in April, Vice President and General Manager of the 787 Program Pat Shanahan outlined a series of key milestones that would occur by June 30.
To track program progress, those milestones included the move of the static and fatigue structural test aircraft to test locations, the beginning of final assembly of Dreamliners Three and Four, hardware airworthiness qualifications and the completion of power-on testing.
To date the static test airframe has moved to its test facilty, final assembly of Dreamliner Three is well underway and many major structures for Dreamliner Four have arrived in Everett. Once the fatigue test airframe is moved later this month, Dreamliner Four can begin final assembly as the body join station becomes available.
In May, Shanahan underscored the importance of the power-on testing:
“We’ll have a good understanding of how well we’ve done systems
integration and it’s really at that point we understand what kind of
airplane we have and a bunch of risk gets retired.
“So, if you called up July first and said, “Pat, how’s it going? What
do you know about this airplane?” I’ll know significant amount more
about the airplane and our ability to meet schedule on July first.
We’ll have taken all our work in the lab and put it in one airplane, so
it’s a big deal for us.”
Shanahan, who took the helm of the 787 program in October 2007, was on hand for the commencement of power-on testing Wednesday.
Indications of commencement of power-on testing were running rampant earlier this week in Everett with the arrival of lit beacon signs on the factory floor reading When illuminated, production test in progress, as well as a newly erected perimeter around Dreamliner One Warning – Power On Testing – Authorized Personnel Only – No Entrance – No Exceptions.
According to several program sources, flat panel TV monitors have been set up on the factory floor showing a live video feed of the cockpit instruments.
Boeing, taking all appropriate precautions for their early power-on tests, had the facility fire department on hand.
This is a developing story and will be updated as details become available.
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This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.
WICHITA, KS — Hawker Beechcraft has obtained its final Type Certification and Production Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration for its oft-delayed Hawker 4000 business jet. This latest milestone clears the way for its first delivery after 12 years of development.
According to Hawker Beechcraft, the first Hawker 4000 customer delivery of aircraft RC-7 is expected “soon”.
The Hawker 4000 is the largest composite civil aircraft to be certified by the FAA to date.
Hawker Beechcraft was granted initial type certification for the Hawker 4000 in November of 2006, but deliveries and full production was put on hold because of post-certification modifications including a boost in the maximum takeoff weight, an increase in maximum operating altitude and approval for flight into known icing conditions.
The most notable of the changes was the installation of additional lightning protection for the composite fuselage business jet made at the insistence of the FAA.
The Hawker 4000 made its maiden flight August 11, 2001 in Wichita, Kansas. The aircraft, powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308A engines, can carry up to 14 passengers plus two crew members and sports a maximum range of 3,280 nm with eight passengers. Hawker Beechcraft has secured roughly 130 orders for the 4000 series aircraft, including the largest order in the manufacturer’s history from NetJets for 50 aircraft in December 2005.
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LN4 – Cell 20 @ Global Aeronautica being worked on.
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This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.
Just a quick note from here in Charleston. I’m Twittering like a madman now. A very special thanks to Boeing, Vought and Global Aeronautica for giving web 2.0 a chance to find its way into the aviation industry. You can follow my twittering here.
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Getting ready for departure to Everett.
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Inside Vought. Aft fuselage sections 47 and 48 for Dreamliner 12, 13
and 14.
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CHARLESTON, S.C. — The third of four heavily modified Boeing 747-400s was certified June 6, 2008 by the Federal Aviation Administration for use on the 787 Program. The Large Cargo Freighter, or Dreamlifter, transports major 787 structural components from global supplier partners to Charleston, S.C. and Everett, WA for integration and final assembly respectively.
The aircraft, according to program sources, which is registered as N249BA, will join two other Dreamlifters in July for the worldwide logistical operation in support of the 787 program. The fourth Dreamlifter began modification in February and is expected to join the fleet in 2009.
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I’m writing from Charleston, South Carolina this afternoon and it looks as though it’s going to be a very busy week. I’ll be reporting over the next several days from Global Aeronautica and Vought here in Charleston covering the progress for the 787 program on location. On Wednesday, I’ll be transitioning west to Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita, Kansas for the same purpose. It should be a very packed week with lots going on, with potentially a big story or two coming down the pike.
As a quick refresher, Spirit Aerosystems is responsible for the forward nose fuselage barrel of the 787 (Section 41), the engine pylons and the fixed and movable leading edge of the wings.
Vought fabricates and joins the barrel sections of the aft fuselage (Sections 47 & 48) and Global Aeronautica, a joint venture between Boeing (pending completion of the acquisition from Vought) and Alenia, is next door and acts as a major integrator of the center fuselage.
The center fuselage is the combination of four main structures. The first two are from Japan. The center wing box and wheel well (Section 45/11) and forward fuselage barrel (Section 43). The second two are from Italy. The fuselage crown over the center wing box (Section 44) and the aft fuselage barrel (Section 46).
Current and Future Blogging
In the here and now, I’ve finally surrendered and I’m giving Twitter a try. If you’re not familiar with Twitter it’s a microblogging platform that allows for 140 character updates using the web, text or email. It’ll make for live blogging of factory tours, air shows and major events that much easier to follow. Not to mention, comments/thoughts about the aviation industry. No individual postings on the blog, just live from me to the internet. You can subscribe and follow it directly on Twitter or through Friendfeed where I’ve integrated it as well. Let’s go ahead and file this under the beta category and see how it works out.
Looking towards the future, Apple announced its iPhone 3G today and a higher-speed connection will benefit this blog greatly. Some of you may know, my iPhone is my numero uno blogging tool after my laptop and lets me get those live shots directly on the blog with zero distribution time with mobile posting. New applications built directly into the phone will add an entirely new dimension which I’m looking forward to exploring. I’m still trying to find what works and what doesn’t for this blog, and the technology envelope could always use some more little pushing.
Musing
In closing, I wanted to pose a question to my B.A.B.E. post Friday. I want to turn this one over to all of you. What products do you think are missing from the market? If you were at the top of one of the big four, what would you do with oil heading for $150 a barrel?
As I sometimes say, Onward.
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I found out this afternoon that this blogger was shortlisted for a 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award by the World Leadership Forum. I was selected in the Breaking News category for my coverage of the 787 Dreamliner program over the past year. I’m truly blown away by this and I wanted to once again thank all of you for making this possible. Like I’ve always said, without you, I’m just talking to myself. The winner will be announced on July 13th in London just before Farnborough, though just being shortlisted is a great honor in itself.
I was nominated along side four other outstanding journalists and I would be remiss if I didn’t provide you links to their work.
Breaking News
Robert Hewson – Russia’s Latest Cruise Missile – JDW Janes.com
Murdo Morrison – Ryanair Plans Transatlantic Airline – Flight Global. Com
Adrian Schofield – Unlocking China’s Skies – Aviation Week
Patrick Veillette – Pilot Experience vs Youth – Business and Commercial Aviation
Also, a huge congratulations to my colleagues Nick Ionides, Craig Hoyle, Max Kingsley-Jones and Alan Peaford on being shortlisted as well!
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This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.
