787 flight test program reaches 500 flights

By Geoffrey Thomas | August 26, 2010

Boeing’s 787 flight test program reached a milestone with the completion of its 500th flight, which was operated by flight test aircraft ZA004. The five flight test aircraft currently in the program have logged more than 1,600 total flight hr. The sixth and final test Dreamliner, ZA006, is due to take to the air by Sept. 12 (ATW Daily News, Aug. 11).

Meanwhile, the 27th 787 is set to enter the production line this week, but it will be the last one for about six weeks as Boeing attempts to let the 787 supply chain catch up. When production resumes, the manufacturer hopes to achieve a build rate of 2.5 per month.

Separately, Rolls-Royce told Bloomberg that the Aug. 18 failure of one of its Trent 1000 engines on a test bed will have no impact on the 787's EIS. While Rolls is tight-lipped on the cause of the failure, it is understood that a fix is already in production.

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27 Aug06:47

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Compare and contrast:
ATWonline: "...Separately, Rolls-Royce told Bloomberg that the Aug. 18 failure of one of its Trent 1000 engines on a test bed will have no impact on the 787's EIS."

Boeing: "...The delivery date revision follows an assessment of the availability of an engine needed for the final phases of flight test this fall. While Boeing works closely with Rolls-Royce to expedite engine availability, flight testing across the test fleet continues as planned. ... The delay in engine availability has extended that estimate to mid-first quarter 2011."
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