The Unidentified Nose

It was initially reported on this blog on November 27 that the nose section (PHOTO) delivered one day prior from Wichita was identified as belonging to Dreamliner Two (ZA002). This delivery would’ve been early as major structures are not scheduled to arrive until late December. Flightblogger has learned that the nose section was improperly identified at the time of publication.

The nose section has since been linked to a previously unknown airframe, LN9901 or ZY901.

Image added 9:39 PM 11/29

Unlike previous sections that have arrived from suppliers, the nose section was loaded onto a flatbed truck on Tuesday evening for transport to the Boeing Development Center at Boeing Field south of Seattle for testing.

When asked for clarification about the plans for this nose section, Boeing responded in this way:

…our policy is that we do not respond to questions with respect to 787 production details, particularly when they involve specific parts or airplanes. We also, as you know, are not going to comment on or “confirm” information obtained through unauthorized means.

The arrival nose section raises questions about its destiny. Could this section be used for additional drop testing? What about freeze testing? Or is this airframe going to be the unlucky victim of an onslaught of frozen chickens?*

*Editors Note: Non-frozen chickens have been shown to do just as much damage to an aircraft as frozen chickens.

**Editors Note Two: I was wrong about frozen chickens. They, in fact, do cause a lot more damage. I have no credibility on chilled poultry weaponry.

Update:

The center fuselage for ZY998 (fatigue airframe) was delivered on the night of November 28 from Charleston. It was loaded into the body join rig along with section 41 at position one in the factory. The wings are also being moved into position to begin the wing-body join.