Boeing confirms success of 787 Ultimate Load Test

Boeing Photo

Hours after conducting the ultimate load test, Boeing announced that the test has been completed successfully based on preliminary examination of the data. It will be a few more weeks of detailed analysis by Boeing structural engineers. The wings were deflected to 25 ft high during the test. Once the data is analyzed by Boeing it will be sent to the FAA as part of the certification program. This is a huge hurdle that Boeing overcame especially in light of the side of body issue that was revealed over 6 months ago. Here's Boeing's press release:

Boeing Completes Ultimate-Load Wing Test

EVERETT, Wash., March 28, 2010 – Boeing today completed the ultimate load wing up-bending test on the 787 Dreamliner static test unit. During the testing, loads were applied to the airframe to replicate 150 percent of the most extreme forces the airplane is ever expected to experience while in service. The wings were flexed upward by approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) during the test.

Initial results of the ultimate load test are positive. More extensive analysis and review are required before the test can be deemed a success.

“The test program has been more robust than any conducted on a Boeing commercial jetliner,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “It has taken countless hours of hard work by the Boeing team and our partners to work through the static test program. Everyone who has been involved in this effort over the past several years should be very proud of their contributions to ensuring the safety of the 787 Dreamliner.

“We are looking forward to the technical team’s report on the details of the test results,” said Fancher. It will take them several weeks to work through all of the data.

During each second of the more than two-hour test, thousands of data points were collected to monitor the performance of the wing. Key data points are monitored real-time during the test, but all of the data will be evaluated in the weeks ahead.

The next major milestone is the issuance of the Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) that will kick off the formal certification of the 787 by the FAA with their inspectors and engineers flying on board the 787 during the certification test flights. That is expected any day now, perhaps as early as tomorrow.

Guy Norris, Flightblogger and Saj Ahmad also posted info on the 787 ultimate load test. Here are the links for your reading pleasure:

Guy Norris: Wing ultimate load test complete on 787

Flightblogger: Confirmed: ZY997 completes 150% ultimate wing load test

Saj Ahmad: Boeing 787 Wing Test Milestone Completion