Targeting Mid-September For First Test Flight

Boeing conceded Monday the first flight of its much-anticipated 787 Dreamliner may not occur until mid-September, towards the latter half of its previously-announced six-week window for the event.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President Scott Carson stressed the delay would not impact the 787's expected entry into service in 2008, according to news reports.

On the eve of the 2007 Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, Carson also addressed concerns stemming from last week's revelation of gaps in the forward fuselage segments of the first plane, now being assembled in Everett, WA.

“The problem was not unexpected and was relatively routinely corrected,” Carson said, adding "we learned a little about the assembly of components."

As ANN reported, a finger-width gap was found on one side after workers joined the section 41 and 43 fuselage segments last week, requiring teardown of several supports within in the structures -- a fairly common practice with aluminum-bodied airliners -- to better align the barrels.

The 787 is scheduled to be rolled out to the public next month -- 07/08/07.

FMI: www.boeing.com