Flight test 787s conduct remote tests in wide-ranging conditions

Boeing said Friday that four of its five operating 787 flight test aircraft were in the midst of conducting "remote test operations" away from Seattle, enabling the manufacturer to measure Dreamliner performance in a variety of conditions. Flight test aircraft ZA001 is conducting a week of testing in Roswell, N.M. that will include rejected-takeoff conditions. ZA001 has actually been on remote deployment to Edwards Air Force Base in California for several weeks "with a focus on takeoff- and landing-performance conditions," according to the manufacturer.

Aircraft ZA002 is temporarily based in Keflavik conducting high-latitude and cold-weather testing. ZA003 is in Yuma, Az., for tests in hot temperatures while ZA004 "has spent an extended time operating out of Victorville, Calif., conducting flight loads survey testing," Boeing stated. "This testing measures external pressure distributions throughout the flight envelope. ZA004 is set to do testing in Glasgow, Mont., after it wraps up its California testing."

Aircraft ZA005, meanwhile, is undergoing testing in Seattle to verify the type's performance in the presence of ice.

The 787 flight test fleet has reached 1,650 hr. of flying on more than 540 flights. It was revealed last week that Boeing will increase the test fleet by at least two production aircraft (ATW Daily News, Sept. 3). The sixth test  Dreamliner, ZA006, is due to take to the air by Sept. 12 (ATW Daily News, Aug. 26).