Flightglobal:

Delays sparked by structural shortcoming in wing-body join and fuselage barrel wrinkles...

Author: Jon Ostrower

Date: 25 August 2009

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The Comet had shortcomings is the Boeing 787 going the same before it flies. I certailny will not be lining up to in one of the first if it ever flies

The certification processes now followed reflect cumulative knowledge from earlier programmes, including comet. So as long as anything fixed is properly tested the 787 will be safe to fly. But it will be overweight and not meet its performance specs for at least 20 and possibly 30 airframes. More a problem for Boeing and the airlines than the passengers.

 It's just been confirmed that the 787s first flight is still scheduled for 2009 and that the first delivery is scheduled for fourth quarter of 2010. good news for Boeing if thewy can pull it off, the only problem is that there has been so many false dawns that until it is actually in the air you can never be sure.

 Mav

I'm getting excited now that the problem they encountered doesn't seem to be as big as what has been made out in the media, but I still have serious doubts that Boeing will deliver the first planes in Q4 2010 as announced. Why? Well reading between the lines of the recent announcement, Boeing have yet to implement this fix onto their flight test aircraft. Presumably once installed this fix would have to be tested to ensure it achieves the 150% load factor it failed to do last time AND complete the flight test program without any further issues.

Can they do all that in little over a year?

Only if everything goes according to plan between now and then!!

Considering it's a total computer build using composites and structures never before tried on this scale, I think the results so far have been tremendous. Remember the Boeing 367 (707) and 747 were built on spec, risking the entire future of the company each time, and each became the most successful airlifters of their generation. The media, in this instance, cannot be impartial - the draw of watching a Hindenburg is too great! They relish and survive on dispute, dissention, strife and woe. Once the 787 is in full production and flying passenger routes routinely we'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

 I totally agree - the media tend to blow everything out of proportion. The internet and the 24/7 rolling news era has contributed to this significantly. They always seem to go straight to the doomsday scenario first.

 A shot of the ANA 787 during Flight tests to get you in the mood:

 

Some more images of the ANA 787 doing some taxi tests

I hadn't realized the winglets were so small. I assume the A/c doesn't need the lift generation, since the composite structure will lighten the overall TOW. Also the wing camber is surprising - must be all of 15-20 degrees. I look forward to seeing the operations and test results.

She's a pretty bird for sure!!!

The Dreamliner has raked wingtips on the -800 and -900 variant and will have wingtips on the -300 variant.

  It looks like a giant EMB-170!

 

Emb-170 Dreamling, or is that dreamlet?