FlightBlogger

Archive 2007-2012

  • Video: The sound of takeoff – 777 v. 787

    I’m very much alive and kicking and my apologies for not posting much in the last two weeks. I’m back from some much-needed time off and I’m (enthusiastically) tackling a mountain-sized to-do list I’m thrilled 2010 is now fully underway with a big year ahead (which I’ll cover later this week). By the looks of the stock market, aerospace is breathing a collective sigh of relief after a rocky 2009 (Boeing up almost 4%, Embraer up almost 5%, Spirit up 3.25%, Lockheed up 2%, Northrop Grumman up 1.7%).

    Here’s a brief list of the items I’m working on for this month: Top 10 Aerospace Stories of the Decade, 787 Flight Test update, pre-flight preparations for the 747-8 – including an interview with Joe Sutter, a guide to the flight deck of the 787 and a structural overview of the A350 XWB. Needless to say, I’m going to be busy with the Singapore air show coming up in early February.
    In the meantime, I put together a video comparing the sound of the 777 and 787 on their respective take off rolls. Last week, an Aerologic 777-200LRF and 787 ZA001 departed KPAE within minutes of one another. A close friend captured both departures from the same spot on the grassy knoll in Everett. I spliced the footage together to give an sense of the different sound each aircraft makes as it takes off.
    The comparison is rough as the 787 is idling near the 777 as it takes off and the 787 has its APU running when it begins its take off roll, but the video should give a preliminary comparison of the different sounds of a Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and a General Electric GE90-115BL. Enjoy!

    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.

  • Better Know a Dreamliner – Part Two – ZA002

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    ZA002 – Registration: N787EX – Serial No: 40691 – Final Assembly: 2/12/08

    ZA002, the second 787 flight test aircraft, recognizable by its All Nippon Airways paint job, took its first flight on December 22nd from Paine Field.

    Though it wears the colors of the 787 launch customer, ZA002 will remain in the Boeing inventory as a research and development vehicle, along with ZA001 and ZA003 after the aircraft were determined to have no market value following extensive rework and modification made during assembly.

    The aircraft, which is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, will be fully instrumented for the flight test program and feature banks of computers and water ballast in the unfinished cabin.

    Airplane Two will have the second most hours of the six flight test aircraft and will first participate in the initial airworthiness and flutter clearance, as well as stability and control testing ahead of the Type Inspection Authorization two months after ZA001’s first flight.

    High speed air testing is also expected to be a significant part of ZA002’s aerodynamic check-out along with wing twist that will be measured by inertial measurement units.

    Once initial airworthiness is cleared, ZA002 will focus on systems functionality and reliability (F&R) for ETOPS and standard operations. The 787 will have a 330-minute ETOPS certification or 207-minute certification as a backup.

    FlightBlogger imageBy contrast, the 777 was granted the first ETOPS clearance in 1995 with 180 minutes, a good indication of how far twin-engine long-range operations have come. About 10% of the 3,000 hours flown during the flight test program will be used for ETOPS certification spread across Airplanes 2-6, though ZA002 will account for the bulk of the hours.

    Rolls-Royce completed 3,000 cycles worth of ETOPS testing on the Trent 1000 engines on August 19, 2009.

    As part of the ETOPS testing that requires long legs, ZA002 – accompanied by ZA003 – will undertake route proving for customers. Boeing has not yet specified which city pairs will be flown, but Frank Rasor, director of flight test operations for Boeing says that visits to Japan will provide an opportunity for ground crews to work with the aircraft first hand.

    ZA002’s stability and control testing will focus on the functionality of the autopilot and will conduct a lot of runway work – many takeoffs and landings – during flight test with trips to Edwards Air Force base in California planned to take advantage of the long runways dry lake bed that provide safe margin for the tests.

    With its focus on systems F&R, ZA002 will be instrumented with an oxygen analyzer and fiber optic temperature sensor to monitor the 33,528 U.S. gal fuel system.

    The 787 is the first new commercial aircraft to comply with the fuel interting requirement by the FAA. Boeing will measure the oxygen content and temperatures across the system. Rasor says the company will take special care in this particular area due differences in how the fuel interacts with the systems, as well as how it is circulated and cooled.

    Another major F&R test will look at the aircraft’s electrical systems and will determine its maximum load by connecting resistors which act as heaters. These heaters will pull electrical power from the engines and generations systems like the Hamilton Sundstrand APS 5000 APU, which will be fitted with special instrumentation.

    For the load banks test, the heaters will be attached to barrels of water and are run up, steadily increasing the power load on the aircraft’s electrical system. Rasor says the test will need to be monitored closely, as the eventually the water in the barrels will come to a boil.

    Photo Credit Boeing

    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.

  • Explanation and clarification on ZA002’s landing gear

    As you may have noticed, ZA002 touched down at Boeing Field with its landing gears doors open instead of stowed as we saw on ZA001 last Tuesday. The reason for the open position at the time of landing had to do with the resolution Neville and Carriker used to fully straighten a component of the nose landing gear.
    FlightBlogger imageThe Seattle Times has reported that “Part of the gear assembly “was tilted to the aft by 15 degrees.”
    Specifically the part in question was the nose landing gear drag brace that, according to an airline pilot who holds type ratings on both the 757 and 767 and flies for a major US carrier, a drag brace “braces the airplane [landing gear] gear when a rearward load placed on the gear. This will help prevent gear collapse under higher than normal load situations.”

    Boeing says the telemetry room, or TM, noticed a conflict in the readings on the nose landing gear and asked for a visual inspection by the T-33 chase plane. 

    The chase plane reported that the nose landing gear drag brace was “not completely straight,” adding “there’s about a 15 degree angle to it.”

    Neville cycled the landing gear doors and later the landing gear a few times to try and properly align the drag brace.

    The crew ultimately selected the Alternate Gear extension option which unlocked the nose and main landing gear doors, dropping the landing gear into position, resolving the issue, and explains why we saw the doors open on arrival. Additionally, the use of the ALTN GEAR option ensured that any potentially unresolved issue with the nose gear would not be an issue on touchdown.

    FlightBlogger imageIt’s quite common to see a 777 making an approach to KPAE after a production test flight with the landing gear doors open, such a condition is a common occurrence during a test flight and even more common during the first flight of a new aircraft. Ultimately, while this minor issue was encountered, the redundancy in the landing gear system was tested successfully in flight.

    Naturally, the gear was inspected after landing and the system will obviously be tested once again when ZA002 flies again. One anomaly on a first flight is hardly indicative of a larger issue. If this same problem is found in the other test aircraft, then that would be something requiring a larger change, but there’s absolutely no evidence to support that after just five hours and six minutes of flying the 787.

    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.

  • Video: ZA002 is airborne!

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    ZA002 took to the skies at approximately 9:10 PT from Paine Field in Everett, Washington after completing three taxi runs. At the controls is Capt. Randy Neville, accompanied by Capt. Mike Carriker in the right seat. Follow the latest developments on the first flight of Boeing 002 Experimental on twitter by following me and the #787FT hashtag.
    Video Courtesy Future of Flight
    Video Capture from KIRO7

    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.

  • How the Global Aeronautica deal went down

    Boeing announced at 7:00 AM today (December 22) that it has acquired Alenia’s 50% share in Global Aeronautica, a deal that has been widely rumored to be in the works for months now. Global Aeronautica, which began its life as a 50-50 joint venture between Vought and Alenia, will now be incorporated into Boeing Charleston.

    According to several program sources, the deal between Boeing and Alenia was finalized and signed Monday. Later that same day, Boeing set up a stage on the northeastern side of Global Aeronautica that program sources said was larger and more elaborate than that available for watching 787 first flight the week before. 

    A notification went out later in the afternoon for an all hands meeting early this morning that included third and first shift staff. Second shift is to have a similar meeting starting at 4 PM today. Flightglobal.com broke the story at 6:54 this morning, followed minutes later by the official announcement.
    Today’s deal is the fourth phase in Boeing’s gradual takeover of the North Charleston site. Boeing first acquired Vought’s share of GA in March 2008, followed by Vought’s aft fuselage fabrication and integration operations in July 2009 and announced in October that North Charleston would be the home of the second 787 final assembly line.

    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.

  • Is Boeing getting ready to buy the last 50% of Global Aeronautica?

    Charleston is abuzz once again that Boeing might be getting ready to buy the last 50% of Global Aeronautica from Alenia. 

    Multiple program sources report that a 6:15 AM ET all-hands meeting is planned for an undisclosed purpose tomorrow morning for the 3rd and 1st shifts working at Boeing Charleston and Global Aeronautica.

    While no agenda has been disclosed for the meeting, all signs point to a potential announcement of an acquisition by Boeing of the final 50% of the North Charleston facility.

    Could we see simultaneous releases tomorrow morning on a Global Aeronautica deal, as well as the first flight of ZA002?

    I asked Pat Shanahan, vice president of airplane programs, last Tuesday if he was content with the 50-50 model for sharing ownership with Alenia. His reply:
    “Operationally there’s no division, it’s pretty seamless so we work very collaboratively, and with our experience people really line up as a team…people don’t look at who owns what make sure they have a vote,” he replied.
    Global Aeronautica is responsible for the integration of the 787’s center fuselage sections. Alenia fabricates Sections 44 and 46 in Grottalie, Italy, while Kawasaki and Fuji Heavy Industries are responsible for Sections 43 an 45/11, respectively, with both built in Nagoya Japan.

    Once integrated, the structures are shipped via the Dreamlifter to Everett for final assembly.

    Boeing first purchased Vought’s 50% share in Global Aeronautica back in March of 2008 after the airframer moved to increase oversight at the North Charleston facility. 
    The company has slowly expanded its ownership of the site, later purchasing Vought’s aft fuselage facility in July raising the total share of ownership of the site to 75%. 
    Finally, in October, Boeing selected North Charleston as the site of the second 787 final assembly line. 
    Guess we’ll just have to wait and see what materializes. 

    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.

  • ZA002 to fly December 22nd, weather permitting

    ZA002-flightline_560.jpgBoeing has confirmed that ZA002 (N787EX) will fly around 845 AM PT from Everett on Tuesday, December 22nd.

    At the controls will be Captain Randy Neville and chief project pilot Captain Mike Carriker.

    Neville will fly left-seat for this second 787 flight that will see the aircraft flown from Paine Field to Boeing Field as part of a quick ferry flight from the factory site to the flight test center.

    The weather at the time of takeoff is slated to be partly cloudy and 37 F, 3 kt winds from the SSW with a 20% chance of rain, significantly better than the window that allowed ZA001 to take off on December 15.

    ZA002, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, is the second of six flight test aircraft participating in the flight test campaign.

    The Future of Flight will open the Stratodeck viewing area overlooking the airport beginning at 8 AM to view the flight. GET DIRECTIONS

    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.

  • A Closer Look: First Flight of the Boeing 787

    Mike Carriker and Randy Neville were alone on the flight deck of ZA001 when the air stairs were retracted at 10 minutes past 10 on Tuesday, December 15.
    The two men read through their final pre-taxi items on the electronic checklist. 
    “Anti-Ice?” asked Neville.
    “On,” replied Carriker. 
    “Recall?” 
    “Checked” 
    “Autobrake?”
    “RTO.”
    “Flight Controls?”
    “Checked.”
    “Ground equipment?”
    “Clear.”
    ZA001 was ready to taxi. 
    “Boeing 001 Heavy Experimental, ground, taxi runway 16R,” called Paine Ground.
    Carriker eased the throttles forward and the twin Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines responded with a slow roll forward out of stall 105, where ZA001 had been parked since Saturday morning’s high speed taxi tests. ZA001 turned left and headed toward the north gate of the Boeing flight line. Carriker and Neville ran through the Before Takeoff checklist, setting the aircraft’s flaps to 20.
    ZA001 taxied down runway 16R past the crowd of thousands watching along either side of the 9010-foot runway. The slowly taxiing 787 turned off of the runway at taxiway A6 before proceeding further on alpha southbound past the Paine Field Fire Station.
    ZA001 was cleared for takeoff before it took to runway 34L as it waited for the chase planes to position for the aircraft’s takeoff roll. 
    The twin Lockheed T-33 overflew 34L as ZA001 positioned short of 34L.
    The twin-engine airliner moved into position on 34L and waited as the engines idled over the numbers of runway. The aircraft had spent 944 days in final assembly in Everett; worked, reworked, rebuilt, redesigned and reinforced. All that was passed now, it was finally time to fly.

    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.

  • Travel Day: SEA-DCA

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    Travel Day: SEA-DCA, originally uploaded by flightblogger.

    Well, the week’s a wrap for me. I’m heading back to DC just in time for 5-14 inches of snow. So my weekend plans will consist of some serious indoor R&R. Heading back home on this Alaska Airlines 737-800 (N524AS) and the mountain even managed to make an apperance before I
    departed. Still a lot of information to digest after Tuesday’s first flight, so stay tuned for that. Catch you on the East Coast.

    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.

  • More 787 First Flight photos than you can shake a stick at

    I think the title of this post captures it nicely. I’ll have some words to go with these visuals soon enough. In the meantime…enjoy.

    ▶ Video originally embedded here

    www.flickr.com
    This Flash-based video is no longer available.

    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.