1 Stitch: Awesome. I was hoping they'd do them after completing Final Gauntlet last week.
2 Trigged: WOOOOT! Another step forward! How long will the taxi tests last?
3 Mattcawby: They have taxied down 16R twice now, looks like they are getting ready to do a high speed. I alerted the local news so there should be a lot of pictur
4 IAD787: First Pictures!! They aren't amazing, but it's the real deal. She rolls! http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/fl...irst-pictures-787-low-speed-t.html IAD
5 WILCO737: That is good news I am looking forward to more progress soon. wilco737
6 LY4XELD: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/50145437.html More pictures
7 Ken777: Nice news to go along with the announcement of the Vought SC facility: http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/...ntent/jul2009/db2009077_590474.htm The g
8 OA260: Is there not any ( video ) media covering it??
10 PlanesNTrains: As underwhelmed as I've been in the overall appearance of the 787 (I like it, but haven't really been overly inspired), and as disgusted as I am with
11 Stitch: I think the 787-9 will be better-proportioned. She looks a little stubby forward of the wing.
12 Ikramerica: I also think the paint scheme helps make it look short. the plane looks a little better in the NH livery.
13 DeltaHolland: Wow that looks awesome! Can't wait till she's ready to fly!
14 United787: After reading all about the deperessing potential 18 month delays and major re-design yesterday, this is a nice pick me up...until Boeing tells us oth
15 Mcr: Shame about the lack of sound on the video. Or is she really that quiet? What's up with the rudder? Looks to me like it's moving a lot in the video (a
16 Deaphen: Love the dual flashing lights on the tail cone! Brilliant. Though personally not as smashing looking as i imagined! Good going. Nitin
17 PlanesNTrains: I agree. In Auburn at the Supermall cinemas there is an airplane/airport theme. On the wall is a likeness of a 777, but it always looked a little off
18 EZYAirbus: Great site to see, I noticed during the video the flaps were set, is this in case they do have to lift off for some reason during a high speed taxi? S
19 FlyLKU: Let's hope that's not all she does! It's progress.
20 757GB: Seeing it move on its own power brought it home for me. If for a moment one forgets about the current problems, she sure looks ready and eager to fly!
21 Petera380: From what I've read there will not be any high speed taxi tests until the fuselage fixes are in. Anyway, nice to it moving under it's own power finall
22 Stratofortress: That's pretty. The nose and windows look much better than I expected. (although not as good as the conceptual drawing) What's the plane on the taxiway
23 AirframeAS: CRAP!!!!!! Soooooooooooooo close!!!!! I predicted that today would be the 787's first flight. So, so, so close!!! Dammit! I hope the taxi tests went
24 Airliner777: One more step towards test flight! GREAT!
25 Keesje: Ah, we deserved this.. [Edited 2009-07-07 13:30:24]
26 757GB: NYC777 reports that there was apparently an RTO test. http://nyc787.blogspot.com/2009/07/7...inally-moves-on-its-own-power.html Does the test on the v
28 Ncfc99: Was anyone else just dying for it to rotate on that high speed run...........or was that just me? It looks like it wants to fly, where it belongs.
29 AirframeAS: I think it actually did.... It looks like it did, however...
31 Thorben: Tomorrow it will be two years after the roll-out, btw.
32 Ikramerica: Well, RTO tests have to be set up so the plane can fly if necessary. Was there a fight plan filed?
33 ER757: I was wondering the same thing. Sure was a lot of smoke coming off the tires when she braked I must say, it's a beautiful looking aircraft, but it be
34 ERAUgrad02: I noticed that the switched from strobes to more energy efficient LED's for the anti-collision lights. I'm sure the landing lights are HID's like on
35 Osteogenesis: Great news!! Wish you all the best and hope the troubles are overcome very soon.
36 SASDC8: Nice and about time Great day for Boeing and the 787 program Cheers Stein
37 BatBowlField: Hard to tell. Looks borderline. But a super-looking airplane nonetheless. Especially so from those overhead shots. Lets hope she flies real soon.
38 Brilondon: The 787 looks really great under it own power.
39 AirframeAS: I believe the CRJ's have them too. They look a lot like BMW headlights!
40 Rbgso: Agreed. That is one sexy looking aircraft. Now if they could just get the thing airborn......
41 Conti764: Right now, it does everything my car does Now get it up in the air Boeing, 'cause it ain't a plane untill it flies!
42 EPA001: Yes we did with all the waiting we have done. Now get her airborne, but when?
43 Ken777: From KOMO, the TV station providing the video above: "Test pilots were taking the 787 for a low-speed taxi test around Paine Field's runway and taxi l
44 Model299: Glad to see her move under her own power. It's just a matter of time now.
45 Nomadd22: Wouldn't they be expected to lock the brakes a few times before a real RTO?
46 Stitch: I tend to think it wasn't a full RTO, but more of a braking test. When I used to work around PAE, I'd occasionally see a 777 really rev up the engines
47 Glideslope: Actually, although it may be related to the spoilers deploying. There does seem to be a quick pitch up a split second prior to full braking.
48 NCB: Indeed and RTO test is usually done with fire crews standing by on taxiways. Also no way that it could achieve V1 seconds at less than 10 seconds fro
49 DocLightning: The wings did start to migrate upwards on that roll, however. They generated lift. She didn't fly, but those wings bit some air!
50 Jbernie: Given that the Wright brothers first flight was probably not even one 787 long, if it takes off at a few feet altitude for maybe 3 seconds and then t
51 WingedMigrator: Beautiful video Did they smoke the tires? The puffs of smoke looked a bit unusual to me. A maximum energy RTO, yes. A garden-variety RTO at far less w
52 2707200X: Wow, great taxi I don't think the wheels where intended to partially lock up but it is exiting to see the first taxi of the long awaited 787.
53 Jbernie: My first thought was more they puffed smoke as it was the first time they were really being used, maybe it sitting idle for some time let to some dus
55 KELPkid: I gotta admit, if I was the guy in the left seat, I would have been tempted to pull a Howard Hughes, pull back on the yoke, and take her around the p
56 Vega9000: That is one BEAUTIFUL looking airplane. Much, much better than I thought up until now just from pictures. It's amazing how it's transformed just by th
57 Vega9000: By the way, what's that black thing hanging from the tail?
58 Tdscanuck: KPAE fire crew was out on the field all day. Trailing cone. It provides an independent static air pressure source. Tom.
59 DAL1044: I can't wait until the first flight. Regardless of who builds it I still love any new aircrafts first flight. Always inspiring !
60 WCS: Hi all, I was there this morning. And I do consider myself lucky. Why? Well, yesterday we had as many as 2 Dreamlifter in front of the Paint Shop at P
61 Ikramerica: Ah, makes sense. So just requires clearance then, I guess. How could you tell? 90knots and 60knots don't look that different from a distance, unless
62 Wingman: Well at least the 787 lives up to its advertising claims. In this week's Economist Boeing has a full 2 page spread showing the 787 with the tagline "A
63 Ikramerica: Well, there is no chance of that. These engines just won't make a howling noise. All the ear piercing fun has been desiged right out them!
64 WCS: Definitively impossible for me just by the sight. But as I said ... I also had a very interesting discussion with guys involved on the project Now I
65 7gm7: Looks great! Nice to see progress among the troubles of late. Can't wait for flight, thanks for posting.
66 WCS: Hey guys, Some pictures there: Seconds before the test: http://www.usa-pictures.com/photos-of-Washington-Everett---4016.photos Brakes hitted: http://w
67 F9Animal: Congrats to the 787 team! The pictures I have seen look great, and the aircraft looks stunning! Even more stunning with the brake smoke and the speed
68 Glbltrvlr: Just to be pedantic , as our fearless leader is touring around Moscow right now, it was actually Special Air Mission (SAM) "29000" – with Air Force
69 Fxramper: Damn that plane is sexy. Can't wait to see it in AA livery.
70 Spr773: Those wings look cool....Congrats to Boeing.... (its too early to pop this but a good time to buy so that it will have to be popped eventually ) At le
71 AV8AJET: I noticed a DL 757 with this also (no reg sorry) must be a new retrofit. Looked weird had the LED beacon on the bottom and regular beacon on the top.
72 WCS: Nice clarification, appreciate it. Could you confirm that SAM 29000 is configured just like AFO? I ask that because I noticed some missing components
73 Tdscanuck: It is Air Force One when the President is on board. "Air Force One" is a callsign, not an aircraft. The 747's that are commonly called Air Force One
74 BrouAviation: How a gorgeous looking aircraft! She really comes alive now. How tempting must it be for those testpilots just to throw the throttles fully forward, a
75 WingedMigrator: Something still puzzles me, why was there tire smoke?
76 Burkhard: Congrats to Boeing! All the best wishes to her.
78 Slz396: With credible reports emerging that there could be another massive delay looming for the 787 (up to 18 months) and with a significant structural redes
79 Keesje: What everybody wants to know but doesn't ask to not spoil the party I guess. There were some issues with the braking system. Software last yr, furthe
80 Burkhard: @Slz396 Even if the problems are as big as reports indicate some experts to fear, there is no reason not to test all those components that can be test
81 Keesje: IMO Boeing needs to test, analyse, verify and re test as much as possible as soon as possible. Regardsless of the wing issue. You can''t find a snag
82 PlanesNTrains: Somewhat disappointing that you couldn't resist raining on the parade, but I guess it's to be expected. In my opinion, if you can do the tests, you d
83 Slz396: Excuse me for pointing out the coincidence of this first taxy trial happening on the evening of the second "Potemkin roll-out" aniversary... It's not
84 Racko: Well, if they can do the tests, why not do them? No point in having the 787 just sitting around.
85 RedChili: Wow, seeing that bird running down the runway, I had a feeling that she wanted to jump up and surprise everybody with an unscheduled first flight. It
86 JetMech: Not too sure about "locking" the brakes. I dare say the 787 is fitted with an ABS system like most contemporary types. IIRC, when they do the formal
87 Nomadd22: The ABS systems don't completely eliminate fraction of a second lockups. You still get some smoke at 100% braking. They might be running them to the
88 757GB: After reading threads here for years, I can't say that I am surprised... I agree... it just wouldn't make sense to do it at this time for publicity p
89 Manfredj: I dunno, common sense would suggest that if they are going ahead with taxi testing, first flight could be closer than we think. Why continue testing
90 Stitch: I don't see why Boeing should just close-up shop and send everyone home until ZA001 is ready to fly. They can learn things by continuing with tests an
91 Joperrin89: Sorry if some one already poasted this question, didnt have time to read the whole thread, but dose anyone know when the 787's first flight is schedul
92 Starrion: No. And apparently neither does Boeing. They should be announcing when they think they may reschedule first flight in a couple weeks.* *First flight
93 Airbazar: Am I the only one who can't see the video? I get a ERROR: The file could not be found on the server.
94 AirbusA370: OK, Boeing can build nice looking trucks Now please get it in the air to show us that it's looks nice in "airplane-mode", too...
95 757GB: I haven't seen this link posted. It doesn't show the whole test but it does have sound. Sweeeeet sound! http://kpae.blogspot.com/2009/07/n787ba_07.htm
96 Ken777: I assume that both A&B wear the brake units down in testing before the max RTO test. That would seem logical, making the first trip to the runway a b
97 PlanesNTrains: Sorry, Slz, but we're past the "I'm just an innocent a.net member" period. Frankly, your entire post had nothing to do with a taxi test and everythin
98 Pnwtraveler: I agree with you Stitch. I think the same thing with the 767-200 versus the 767-300 versions. I think as well the size of the cockpit windows, the la
99 Ikramerica: But you want to try to connect the two, without knowing ANY information on the nature of the test, including whether it was something like an "ABS Fa
100 Dragon6172: Any possibility they would disable the anti-skid/ABS for initial taxi testing to make sure the crew had full use of the brakes?
101 Nomadd22: One big difference is that Boeing didn't destroy the test frame in discovering the problem, so they can do a real world test to verify the fix. Airbu
102 Glareskin: Definitely! Saw the scale model last week in the ANA lounge at Narita. A real beauty. I felt a bit sorry for NH though. Suffering the delays as the l
103 EPA001: " target=_blank>http://kpae.blogspot.com/2009/07/n78....html Very, very nice. Thanks for posting this link of the beautiful B787 in taxiing action. Y
104 Astuteman: Wasn't that Ken777's point, in support of yours? Airbus failed a complete wing (destroy a test frame is a bit OTT IMO), but still didn't need to re-d
105 Rheinbote: Scott Hamilton quoted Carson saying that only 40 aircraft would be affected by the temp fix, which would then mean that the average production rate o
106 EA772LR: Excellent pics. Thanks! Gosh I agree... I agree. His post was done in poor taste IMHO. OTOH, very exciting to actually see and hear this thing in mot
107 757GB: Sorry EPA001, no can do yet, but here is a link to an article Jon just posted, with another nice video http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/fl...more-on
108 EPA001: I will not hold it against you that you can't do this (yet). Thanks for the other link. Much appreciated.
109 Glbltrvlr: And it apparently was an RTO test, so smoke would definitely be expected. http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/fl...9/07/more-on-787-taxi-testing.html
110 JetMech: Fair enough. I thought you meant sustained lock. Sure, and you can smell hot brakes from a distance as well. I think it is a regulatory requirement,
111 757GB: I have no idea if they would do it for the 787, but I do remember seeing a video of tests of the 747 in which they disabled the anti-skid in one of t
112 Ikramerica: True, but Boeing is having to rebuild that section, while Airbus did not. Airbus, IIRC, was simply able to model the difference, and then fit the fix
113 Nomadd22: I'm not that familiar with the first wingbox mod. Is there a chance that reinforcement could be the cause of the stresses not being distributed the wa
114 Ikramerica: According to flightblogger, the taxi tests ran up to 100knots, and included manual braking which seemed to be both with and without ABS, so that would
115 JBirdAV8r: Sleaze396, Please spare us the melodrama. That's not even close to accurate, and you know it.
116 Tdscanuck: It is. But the ABS isn't active 100% of the time on most types. That's a cert requirement...max energy braking test must be done with the worst-case
117 Ikramerica: Actually, they would have to in order to then retrofit the fix to the other planes that are already built. And that is the plan, from what has been d
118 WCS: At which point a breaks test is considered a RTO, I don't know. The plane was maybe in the fist third of the runway. One thing probable, engine were
119 Ikramerica: When the brakes are set to RTO mode, it would seem. A look at flightblogger has some information on this topic.
120 WestWing: For what it is worth, the latest Boeing blog entry says an RTO test was performed. Question for anyone that was actually present there during this tes
121 Tdscanuck: They may, but they don't have to. Most aircraft structural repairs are certified by analysis, not test. Tom.
122 WCS: Obviously hard to compare with. My only referrers for the day were VC25A and Dreamlifter; I would say yes, which is fortunate as the 77W have far mor
123 Ikramerica: I am not speaking from a place of confidence on this topic, someone else may have a better understanding, but if the brakes have 7 settings, and one
124 Tdscanuck: RTO, as a brake setting, is specifically related to autobraking. It's the logic that kicks in when certain criteria (speed, throttle position, etc.)
125 Ikramerica: Thanks for that. So basically, you can just define your test as an RTO and then it's an RTO?
Dynamicsguy From Australia, joined Jul 2008, 360 posts, RR: 0 Reply 126, posted (5 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 6675 times:
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 117): Boeing is currently in the process of repairing the existing wing box and wing root back to original spec, before they can apply the fix they are also working on concurrently.
Really? I have seen nothing to say that they were repairing the wing box back to original spec (and I have read the entire 3-part discussion on the issue). Can you point to a reference?
They have certainly said that they will apply the fix to the static test airframe and test it. But that does not require a wingbox at "original spec". It is possible to model the new configuration (including damage + the fix) and validate that against test results.
Ikramerica From United States, joined May 2005, 18485 posts, RR: 60 Reply 127, posted (5 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 5825 times:
Quoting Dynamicsguy (Reply 126): They have certainly said that they will apply the fix to the static test airframe and test it. But that does not require a wingbox at "original spec". It is possible to model the new configuration (including damage + the fix) and validate that against test results.
The are rebonding the parts that came apart. So maybe it's not "original spec" but they are repairing it to an "as new" condition.
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
757GB From Uruguay, joined Feb 2009, 354 posts, RR: 1 Reply 128, posted (5 months 1 week 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 5554 times:
Guy Norris is back. Article on the EICAS tests. Interesting reading. I wasn't aware of the new concepts being implemented regarding EICAS functionality.
Tdscanuck From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 5788 posts, RR: 56 Reply 129, posted (5 months 1 week 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 5220 times:
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 125): So basically, you can just define your test as an RTO and then it's an RTO?
Sort of. You couldn't call, say, an air conditioning test an RTO and have that mean anything. But RTO just means rejected takeoff...if you put yourself in takeoff configuration, run up the engines, release the brakes, and then abort the procedure, you have rejected the takeoff. Could be at any speed, any conditions.
DocLightning From United States, joined Nov 2005, 7527 posts, RR: 50 Reply 132, posted (5 months 1 week 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 5138 times:
Quoting 757GB (Reply 128): Guy Norris is back. Article on the EICAS tests. Interesting reading. I wasn't aware of the new concepts being implemented regarding EICAS functionality.
Things With Wings
And THAT'S what she's gonna sound like, huh? AWESOME! I can't wait to see her fly.
Tdscanuck From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 5788 posts, RR: 56 Reply 133, posted (5 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 4993 times:
Quoting Ikramerica (Reply 130): Obviously, you haven't seen my air conditioner.
As one whose air conditioner recently bit the dust, I'd be happy with one that blows, let alone RTO's!
Quoting Racko (Reply 131): "‘dark’ or ‘quiet’ flightdeck concept"
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this concept already in place in the A320 and the MD-11?
It's been in place since, at least, the 737, and maybe earlier. They weren't suggesting that the dark cockpit was new, just that they're taking it farther.
Glbltrvlr From United States, joined Oct 2007, 272 posts, RR: 0 Reply 134, posted (5 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 4919 times:
Quoting Racko (Reply 131):
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this concept already in place in the A320 and the MD-11?
The concept of not lighting panel indicator lights unless there's a problem has been around for a long time, but this goes beyond that. Now they are "decluttering" the displays and only showing things (like the cited rudder trim position) when it's in a non-standard position.
It's reversing the trend of putting every possible bit of info on a display - especially as displays get larger and larger.
Stitch From United States, joined Jul 2005, 16258 posts, RR: 64 Reply 137, posted (5 months 1 week 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 4818 times:
Quoting Bschusterman (Reply 135): Does anyone know if any 787's have been ordered for private or jet charter usage?
There have been a number of 787VIP orders, though a few of them have been canceled now that the bankers who bought them have lost all their money in the financial crash.
Racko From Germany, joined Nov 2001, 3793 posts, RR: 20 Reply 138, posted (5 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 4541 times:
Quoting Glbltrvlr (Reply 134): The concept of not lighting panel indicator lights unless there's a problem has been around for a long time, but this goes beyond that. Now they are "decluttering" the displays and only showing things (like the cited rudder trim position) when it's in a non-standard position.
It's reversing the trend of putting every possible bit of info on a display - especially as displays get larger and larger.
Still don't really get what's new about that. Where were the Trim positions shown before? Did a 744 display them at all anywhere except on the analog trim gauge?
Where was it shown on an FBW Airbus, when in a normal position? I would have guessed on the secondary ECAM. How's that different to "flight controls synoptic (pilot selectable)" - which I would guess means the MFD that's in the position of the Sec. ECAM?
Iwok From Sweden, joined Jan 2005, 1100 posts, RR: 1 Reply 139, posted (5 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 4466 times:
Quoting IAD787 (Reply 4): First Pictures!! They aren't amazing, but it's the real deal. She rolls!
Thanks for the update. What I don't understand is why bother with all this now, since the bird won't be up in the air for another 6-months. Is there any reason?
Dynamicsguy From Australia, joined Jul 2008, 360 posts, RR: 0 Reply 140, posted (5 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 4443 times:
Quoting Iwok (Reply 139): What I don't understand is why bother with all this now, since the bird won't be up in the air for another 6-months. Is there any reason?
Well, we still don't know a new timeline for the first flight. There was supposed to be an update in "a few weeks" a few weeks ago. It could be significantly less than 6 months, but certainly in the order of months, not weeks. The reason to keep testing is to keep making progress towards certification, and to find any more surprises earlier rather than later.
Quoting Iwok (Reply 139): And the leadership is still intact........... I'll say no more.
The leadership of Boeing Comercial Airplanes maybe, but the 787 program leadership has changed markedly.
Tdscanuck From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 5788 posts, RR: 56 Reply 143, posted (5 months 1 week 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 3338 times:
Quoting Racko (Reply 138):
Still don't really get what's new about that. Where were the Trim positions shown before? Did a 744 display them at all anywhere except on the analog trim gauge?
What's new is that they're actually removing the indication when it's not needed. On, for example, a 744 the analog trim gauge is always there. That goes for a lot of other dials and whistles too. On the 787 they're actually hiding these unless they have something useful to tell you.
Quoting Racko (Reply 138): Where was it shown on an FBW Airbus, when in a normal position? I would have guessed on the secondary ECAM. How's that different to "flight controls synoptic (pilot selectable)" - which I would guess means the MFD that's in the position of the Sec. ECAM?
Synoptics aren't generally displayed, you only pull them up when you're looking for something. Their point is that they're hiding the trim position from EICAS (always displayed) unless the pilots need it so the displays are less cluttered. The pilots are only presented with information they need at the time. If they want to look it up, they can pull up the flight controls synoptic.
Quoting Iwok (Reply 139): Thanks for the update. What I don't understand is why bother with all this now, since the bird won't be up in the air for another 6-months. Is there any reason?
It has to be done and it can be done now. Not doing it now means they have to do it later, which would just push delivery even farther away.
Quoting Bkircher (Reply 141): ANyways does anyone know where I might be able to get some high resolution shots of the taxi test?
Astuteman From United Kingdom (England), joined Jan 2005, 6352 posts, RR: 89 Reply 145, posted (5 months 1 week 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 2869 times:
Quoting Iwok (Reply 139): What I don't understand is why bother with all this now, since the bird won't be up in the air for another 6-months. Is there any reason?
Early retirement of related risks would appear to be the key driver...
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