Boeing delivered 11 787 in the month of September including the 600th 787 (a 787-8 for British Airways). Of these 11, 10 were 787-9 and 1 was a 787-8. For the quarter, Boeing delivered 35 787s (29 787-9s and 6 787-8s). For the year Boeing has reached 100 deliveries (78 787-9s and 22 787-8s). Program deliveries to date are 600 787s total (346 787-8s and 254 787-9s). What is also notable is that the 600th delivery took place 6 years and 1 day after the first 787 was delivered to ANA (September 25th, 2011) an average of roughly 100 deliveries per year.
The most notable delivery occurred on Sept. 26th when Boeing delivered Dreamliner #600 to British Airways. This aircraft is a 787-8 ZA458 (LN 609, G-ZBJI). The other notable delivery was Thai Airways first 787-9 being leased from AerCap. This aircraft is ZB219 (LN 602, HS-TWA).
Boeing also slowed down production during September. I had written about this earlier this month noting that 787 production slowed in Everett and I speculated that there might be some issue at Everett. I have since discovered that 767 and 777 production also slowed thus it appears that this was a pre-planned slow down (1 of 2 with the second one coming in the last two weeks of December).
Some notable airplanes that were rolled out this past month. Ethiopian's first 787-9 (being leased from AerCap) was rolled out. Another one was the first production 787-10 for Singapore Airlines. This aircraft 9V-SCB (LN 622, ZC003) will probably conduct some functionality and reliability testing in support of Boeing test flight program and I would suspect that these test activities will begin late in the 4th quarter. I am now expecting that Boeing should be able to deliver the first 787-10 during the later part of 1st quarter 2018. Boeing used two production 787-9 in support of 787-9 flight test and certification activities (1 RR powered and 1 GE powered). I expect that Boeing will do the same thing with the -10 program (again 1 RR powered and 1 GE powered).
Speaking of the 787-10. Boeing has thus far completed (by my count) 233 test flights and accumulated just over 692 flight test hours through September 30th. I do expect that test flight should continue through to mid February with FAA certification coming in early March. I estimate that Boeing is about 70% done with 787-10 flight testing.
Boeing had rolled out 10 787s in September and start final assembly on 10 aircraft during the month. 2 Everett built 787s started and finished final assembly in the month September.
You can examine the current status of 787 production that I have listed on my updated 787 tables through Google sheets. Click the link below:
Posts
