Fri, Feb 26, 2010
Boeing's ZA004 Joins 787 Flight-Test Program
A third airplane has joined the Boeing 787 Dreamliner
flight-test program. ZA004, the fourth flight-test airplane to be
built, took off at 1143 PST local time Wednesday from Paine Field
in Everett, WA. The program plan called for ZA004 to fly before
ZA003 because the data ZA004 is collecting is needed more quickly
both for certification and development of the 787-9.
Captains Heather Ross and Craig Bomben completed a
three-hour-and-two-minute flight at 2:45 p.m., landing at Boeing
Field in Seattle. Flight-test personnel were also on board to
monitor airplane performance. "Airplane No. 4 operated flawlessly
today," Ross said after landing. "We've got a lot of work ahead of
us but I can't imagine a better start to the flight test program
for this airplane."
Ross will serve as chief pilot for ZA004. This airplane will be
used to accomplish the following types of tests: aerodynamics,
high-speed performance, propulsion performance, flight loads,
community noise and extended operations (ETOPS) and other test
conditions.
During Wednesday's flight, the airplane reached an altitude of
30,000 feet and an airspeed of 255 knots. As the testing of the 787
fleet progresses, the airplane will fly at its expected in-service
maximum altitude of 40,000 feet and speed of Mach 0.85.
"We are continuing to make good progress on the flight test
program," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of
the 787 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The team is staying
focused and disciplined in keeping the priority on safety and
execution of the plan."
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