Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Guy Norris: Hydraulics sytems activation may start soon; paves way for first engine tests

According to Aviation Week's Guy Norris, Boeing may activate the hydraulic systems on Dreamliner 1 as early as tonight which will pave the way for the first engine tests of the Trent 1000 and the start of intermediate gauntlet testing.


There has been a flurry of activity with the first APU start and now the hydraulic systems tests. We will know in the next few days if the engines are on...Look for white smoke to come out of the Trent 1000s when they're spooled up for the first time.

Guy's latest posting.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can you tell us something about the hydraulic tests...is it a manuel test or software, etc.

According to Norris two of the systems run off the engine, so to complete this, the engines must be activated.

Do you have any idea how long or how many days are usually required to complete this work. Is this what constitutes the intermediate gauntlet test

Anonymous said...

Have these engines been fully tested already and now they are being tested to see if they work with the rest of the plane?

Anonymous said...

Do you know if there are any differences between the Trent engines and the GE ones in terms of their intreaction with the plane.

That is, will there be special testing when the GE engines are on the plane?

Anonymous said...

Do they have to refuel this plane when these tests are completed?

Anonymous said...

Could you tell us what the APU does....is it what initially provides power to the plane ?

Dan said...

"Could you tell us what the APU does....is it what initially provides power to the plane ?"

- The Auxillary Power Unit (APU) provides electrical power (and compressed air on other models) to the aircraft when the engines arent running.


"Have these engines been fully tested already and now they are being tested to see if they work with the rest of the plane?"

- Yes theyve been fully tested elsewhere and even flown on other aircraft. Its just a matter of confirming the 787's systems and airframe interaction with the engines is as designed.


"That is, will there be special testing when the GE engines are on the plane?"

-The GE engines are likely to require another set of tests to validate their interaction with the airframe.


"Do they have to refuel this plane when these tests are completed?"

- Most likely yes at some stage, though it would depend on the fuel load Boeing would like the 787 to carry for first flight.

Anonymous said...

Dan, Thank you.

The only remaining question is what the hydraulic system does...is it all of the moving parts? Does it imply that it is driven by liquid or is it mechanical....thanks...