Boeing tells ANN that it has completed the intermediate gauntlet phase of testing on the first 787 Dreamliner. During the testing, pilots and engineers simulated multiple scenarios using all airplane systems as if the aircraft were in flight, including power, avionics and flight controls. Test scenarios ranged from standard flights to single and multiple systems failures during flights.

Intermediate gauntlet testing included about one week's worth of operations on the airplane and hundreds of discrete test conditions.

"The team has done an incredible job supporting an exhaustive test regimen," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "I couldn't be more proud.

"We will continue to take a hard look at the results, make adjustments and finish up our testing so we can get to first flight."

When the 787 taxis out of its home at Paine Field for its first flight, it will start a test program that is expected to consume 3500 hours, spread over 8 airframes (two of which will never fly). The first flight will probably require some three hours and will terminate at Boeing Field... where we understand one hell of a party is being planned. The actual flight test program is expected to be completed in less than nine months from first flight.

It's been a tough road for Boeing's latest design... the first to take aggressive advantage of extensive carbon composite technologies (as much as 50 percent of the primary structure - including the fuselage and wing - on the 787 is made of composite materials) and some truly inspired aerodynamic fine-tuning. The bird was originally expected to fly back in the summer of 2007, but has been dealing with well-documented delays due to the unique demands associated with new materials and construction/fabrication techniques as well as a multi-month mechanic strike.

The first version of the 787 Dreamliner, the "Dash-8" will carry 210 - 250 passengers on routes of 7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles, while the upcoming 787-9 Dreamliner will carry 250 - 290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles. A third 787 family member, the 787-3 Dreamliner, will accommodate 290 - 330 passengers and be optimized for routes of 2,500 to 3,050 nautical miles. General Electric and Rolls-Royce have developed engines for the Dreamliner. Advances in engine technology are expected to contribute as much as 8 percent of the increased efficiency of the new airplane.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.newairplane.com