Boeing releases video of 787 landing performance

Boeing Video

Boeing released a real nice video of the 787 landing tests that it had conducted over the past month including a portion where ZA001 is dragging its tail along the runway to determine the VMO (Velocity Minimum Unstuck) as well as water landing tests and cross wind landing tests conducted by ZA002 in Iceland.

Pilot Mike Carricker give a great narration of what's going on with these landing performance tests.

Ten Month In.....

Boeing Photos

Ten months into the 787 test program and Boeing has made some progress but also aw some set backs in announcng a delay to first delivery to ANA as well as some continued Trent 1000 engine issues.

Boeing has accumulated, through September 14, 1,850 hours and 30 minutes spread over 596 total flights since December 15th. the pace has dropped over the past ten days.mainly due to arplanes being out for ground testing or for planned layups. In the period between August 15 and September 14th Boeing has flown the most hours since the start of flight tests with over 362 flight test hours flown. This included the crosswind test flight in Iceland as well as continued S & C (stability and control) testing and flight loads survey flights.

In the next week Boeing should havethe 6th and final test flight airplane flying though it is a few months late getting into the air. Boeing has given itself a little bit more time to complete all the certification test flights and to prepare the production airplanes for delivery by delaying the delivery to mid February but patience is now razor thin with its customers.

Guy Norris posted a blog report on the 787 test flight fleet's current disposition. ZA001 and ZA005 both returned to flight on Friday, September 17th and ZA004 did fly to Glasgow Industrial Airport in Montana today for the 787's 600th flight. It will conduct community noise testing for the next few days while it is there.

Guy Norris: 787s back in the air

787 Crosswind Test Videos

Flightblogger embeded a video by DABB Films of ZA002's crosswind tests in Iceland and I have to say it is a very remarkable piece of film that is professionally done. I highly recommend that you view it!





Additionally, Flightblogger posted his own video of the crosswind landing trials which he entitled "787 Chasing The Wind" a great video with commentary by flight test engineers and pilots.

ZA002 flies to Iceland; ZA006 at Boeing fuel dock

In the days since Boeing's announcement that they are delaying delivery of the first 787s to ANA by 6 weeks, the 787 flight test team has aggressively flown the 5 test aircraft. From Friday, August 27 through Monday, August 30th, the 787 flight test aircraft had flown almost 71.5 hours. Whether they maintain this pace is another story but one thing is clear: Boeing cannot afford any more slip ups with this aircraft. I expect that Boeing will continue normal test flights which will include ZA004 package "A" Trent 1000 being switched out for the package "B" Trent 1000 sometime this fall. This will be a major milestone as Boeing and Rolls Royce will truly understand the fuel efficiency of the aircraft/engine combination.

Currently, ZA002 is flying to Keflavik, Iceland to conduct crosswind landing tests. Flightblogger broke the news of this flight yesterday:

Flightblogger: Second passport stamp awaits 787 with Icelandic crosswinds

Meanwhile, ZA006 the last test aircraft is finally out of the hangars and in the fuel dock to conduct fueling tests which include fuel jettison testing. In the coming days it will fire up its APU as well as conduct a mini gauntlet test in the run up to its first flight which I expect to take place possibly around September 12th.

In other 787 news, Air China has decided to switch out its order for the 787-8 in favor for the 787-9 along with price concessions from Boeing for the delays it has experienced. Air China will receive these 787-9 between 2015 and 2018