Dreamliner Converts Fuel To Noise

Is Boeing getting the 787 back on track? Judging by recent events, it sure looks like progress is being made... and on something that actually resembles a schedule... albeit a much modified one.

Regardless; it shows steady progress toward the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner, as Boeing completed the first engine runs on the all-new airplane, Thursday morning. The occasion marks the first all-electric start of a commercial jetliner engine on a commercial jetliner; the engines had been started electronically in test facilities earlier.

Engine runs began at 9:30 a.m. (PDT) today and ended 40 minutes later. During initial engine runs, the engines are started and operated at various power settings to ensure all systems perform as expected. Today's engine run test began with the Auxiliary Power System providing power to start the two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.

Basic systems checks continued throughout the test. The engines were powered down and inspected and will be restarted following a technical review. The team completed a vibration check and monitored the shutdown logic to ensure it functioned as expected.

"We were very pleased with the performance on the engines during this test," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "We will now get ready for our intermediate and final gauntlet tests."

FMI: www.boeing.com