787 Flight Test Updates: Month One, Month Two & Month Three
It has been five months since ZA001 made its maiden flight on December 15, 2009 has surpassed 747 flight hours with its four Rolls-Royce powered 787s through May 18.
With five months of testing now under its belt, only Boeing knows if it is truly on track for first delivery and certification by the end of 2010, though with about 750 of the 2400 planned flight test hours (for Rolls-Royce certification) accumulated through a five months worth of testing, the goal looks tighter and tighter. While Boeing has not swayed from its projection of a year-end first delivery, ANA - launch customer for the 787 - is quietly making preparations for a further delay into 2011, with other industry sources saying the airline's preparations angle closer to a springtime entry into service for the new composite jetliner.
On May 10, tracking by UBS Investment Research estimated that the 787 was only 20% through type certification and was as much as a month behind to a mid-September completion "due to extended downtime for both planned and unplanned maintenance on its four test aircraft."
The most significant program milestone in the last two months was the granting of the expanded Type Inspection Authorization on April 21 which cleared the way for the certification operations with the Federal Aviation Administration. Earlier in the month, on April 7, Boeing declared the static structural tests successful following the high-blow and wing flex tests of late March. Additionally, on April 8, the 787's Hamilton Sundstrand APS5000 APU completed ETOPS testing after logging 10,000 operating hours.
ZA001/BOE1
ZA004/BOE4
By March 21, software testing combined with engine deterioration to set a baseline for a lost of engine efficiency overtime. Further engine tests were run through April 9, before entering an extended period of layup that ended with a return to ground testing to check out flight control cruise trim on April 21. That same day, the 787 program was granted its expanded Type Inspection Authorization, kicking off the official flight test for certification campaign.
Most recently, ZA004 has been undergoing NAMS testing to establish the fuel performance of the 787's twin Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The tests are being run at various weights to establish the long range performance of the twin jet. Flights as long as 11hr have been run off the coasts of Southern California and and Mexico. This will be the first block of NAMS testing, which will be later repeated with 'Package B' Trent 1000 engines with further improved fuel efficiency.
Photos Credit 1. Daniel Jones 2-3. Mitchell Scott 4. David Lilienthal 5. Jeremy Lindgren
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