Dreamliner 1 gets hydraulic power-on

One month after Boeing successfully completed the first electrical power-on of the first 787 Dreamliner, Flight International is reporting that the aerospace giant successfully completed the first power-on of the 787's hydraulic system last week. In a conference call with analysts today Boeing CEO Jim McNerney disclosed the hydraulic system milestone which gets that plastic bird one step closer to a first flight in the 4th Quarter of this year. The test allowed for the first movement of the Dreamliner's hydraulically actuated systems that include the ailerons, rudder, flaperons and some spoilers. The elevator, which is controlled by hydraulics, was not installed at the time of the test. Further tests of the hydraulic systems will include jacking the 787 off the ground to test the retraction and extension of its landing gear. I believe the hydraulic bounce kit is an after-market accessory not installed by the manufacturer.



(Flight International)

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Boeing launches Power On website

Last week, through Randy's Journal, Boeing promised a little more information on Monday regarding the successful power on tests run on the first 787 Dreamliner. And, as promised, Boeing has launched a brand new website dedicated the this power on test. The power on is especially important to the 787 as it will be the most "electrically driven" of any passenger jetliner in history. The site has a pretty cool interactive feature and some interesting video documenting the occasion. It also has some sweet shots of the flight deck, with glass displays lit up for the first time. Now let's see it fly already!

Check it out HERE.

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787 Goes "Power-on" Successfully

EVERETT, Wash., June 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) has completed the Power On sequence for the first 787 Dreamliner, marking the completion of the next major milestone on the path to first flight later this year.

Power On is a complex series of tasks and tests that bring electrical power onto the airplane and begin to exercise the use of the electrical systems. The 787 is a more-electric airplane with the pneumatic, or bleed air, system being totally replaced by electronics.

"The team has made great progress in bringing the bold innovation of the 787 to reality," said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "There is plenty of work to be done between now and first flight, but with every step forward we grow more and more confident."

The Power On sequence began in early June with a series of pretest continuity checks to verify that the wiring installed in the airplane had been connected properly. Upon completion of those checks, the Boeing team plugged in an external power cart and slowly began to bring full power into each segment of the system, beginning with the flight deck displays. From that point forward, the pilot's controls were used to direct the addition of new systems to the power grid.

Note: the word "delay" is not found in the above press release. Congrats Boeing.



Photos: Boeing

Edited 2130Z to include photos.

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New 787 cockpit shots from Flightblogger

Can I have this guy's job? Flightblogger has posted up some brand new 787 shots from the Spirit Aerosystems plant in Wichita. These show an entirely complete 787 flight deck. Do the airlines get excited to remove all the plastic coverings from their planes, like I get excited to do with my new toys? The bottom shot shows Dreamliner 4, 5, 6, and 7 forward fuselage sections lined up being prepped for the trip to Everett, WA. Now if he can somehow get a shot of the flight deck after the power on tests of Dreamliner 1 at Boeing. I'd love to see one of these babies all lit up.






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Dreamliner production line photos

These are some never before seen photos from the inside of Boeing's Wide-Body Commercial Airplane Plant in Everett, Washington. The photos show three different 787 Dreamliner aircraft in various states of production. She is one beautiful plastic baby, isn't she?

I have always been a fan of Royal S. King's photography. He always seems to have the scoop in Everett. These shots must have been taken on the media day Boeing recently held because I thought the company prohibited production line photos long ago.

Nice closeup of the pointy nose on this gal. Seems like she's already moving at 400 mph.

Interior shot of her guts.

This cockpit shot turned out a lot better than the one we posted yesterday.

This shot shows a 787 in the static test rig where it will spend its time during the certification phase.

Update: Boeing is now predicting a June power-on for Dreamliner #1.

Photos: Royal King via Airliners.net

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Revealed: 787 Cockpit and Cabin

Tired of seeing those computer graphic generated mock-ups of the 787 cockpit? Above is a picture of the actual 787 cockpit, albeit not completed, but you get the idea. The cockpit windows are huge. Also, there is a picture taken of the unfinished cabin level of the 787.

Image credit: Flightblogger

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787 Comes Out to See the World...Briefly

Over the weekend, Boeing rolled out a couple of the production 787s on a special day. The rollout marked the one year anniversary since major structural components began to come togther to make this beauty. See all the hi-res pictures below:


Images: Charles Conklin

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787 engine test-bed aircraft strikes taxiway sign at Boeing Field

The Boeing 747-200 that Rolls Royce is using as an engine test-bed was involved in a little accident today at Boeing Field in Seattle, WA. The aircraft, N787RR, is currently testing the Trent 1000 engine which is one of two options that will power the Boeing 787. According to the preliminary FAA report, the 747 struck a taxiway directional sign with an egine cowling while taxiing and damaged the cowling. No report if it was the Trent 1000 engine that was damaged, but judging by the picture, it's obviously the closest thing to the ground hanging off the wings (hint, it's the big one). As if the 787 program didn't have enough problems right now.

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Launch Customer Upset Over 787 Delays

Boeing 787 launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) upset with Boeing over the latest delays to the new aircraft program and is complaining publicly that it has yet to receive a blessed delivery schedule.

As you may know, and if you read the blog yesterday you would (and if you did not, shame on you), Boeing announced a third major delay to the 787 development program, which will now push first deliveries back to the third quarter of 2009. ANA was originally due to have received the first 787 next month.

ANA is (still) to be the first operator of the 787 and gave a great boost to the program with its 50 firm orders for the 787, split between the 787-8 and the short-haul version 787-3. To make matters worse, Boeing has told both ANA and Japan Airlines (JAL), the only airlines to order the short haul -3, that this version is delayed even more than the initial -8 and the stretched -9.

Both airlines expected to receive their first -3s in 2010, but Boeing has put the kabash on this and informed them it will be the second version to be produced. The stretched -9 will now be the first version and its first delivery is scheduled to take place in 2012, rather than 2010.

JAL has 35 787s on order plus 20 options, however, it has not revealed what its split will be between the -3 and -8.

Boeing has a storm a-brewin' and they'd better not screw up anymore.

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Boeing Revises 787 First Flight and Delivery Plans

Yes, it's official the 787 program has come upon another delay as Boeing is trying to let us down easy by adding slack in their delivery schedule to avoid any other delays. PointNiner brought you this information weeks ago when a "large purchaser" of the 787 reported upcoming delays due to retrofits of the center wingbox.

To put it in Boeing's terms: the first flight has been rescheduled because of slower than anticipated completion of work that came from all over via the Dreamhauler into Boeing's final assembly line, unanticipated rework (wingbox), and the addition of margins into the testing schedule.

The new (revised) delivery schedule is based on a more conservative production plan developed with all of the 787 partners. Boeing now expects to have a first flight of Airplane #1 in the fourth quarter 2008 (instead of the second quarter 2008), with a first delivery planned for the third quarter 2009 (instead of the first quarter 2009). That schedule now targets approximately 25 deliveries in 2009.

Don't get me wrong, I do like the 787 and Boeing aircraft, however, what has happened here is simply this: Boeing used to have balls and they have lost them. They have lost their way.

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Fed up with 787 delays, Boeing buys out major supplier

The Boeing 787 was supposed to be this marvel of globalization and international cooperation. It was to be the biggest outsourcing program of any commercial aircraft ever. Unfortunately, Boeing is learning the hard way that letting someone else do your work, doesn't always turn out the best. After several unplanned program delays due to supply chain difficulties, Boeing today showed that they cants waits no more! Boeing officials announced that they have acquired Vought's share in the the Global Aeronautica conglomerate with Alenia. Global's role in the 787 program included joining and integrating various fuselage sections at their massive new facility in Charleston, SC. I have the feeling that the new management may put their spurs to production down south.

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More 787 Delays On the Way???

Seems like we just cannot get enough of this 787 delay saga. Every week something new, something to cloud up the pretty picture of the 787. Again, not a shocker, as Boeing is trying to do something that EADS has been doing for a long time, manufacturing different components off-site and mating them together at the Boeing plant.

Nothing is official yet, however, a key 787 customer is predicting another six-month slip in deliveries and has, for the first time, raised the possibility that the 787's troubles extend beyond the production delays to design problems! Design problems plagued the A380 and officials from Boeing have adamantly denied the 787 has design flaw related delays and has maintained the delays are only because of production. If I was Boeing, I would be concerned that a key customer is seeing this from the outside looking in.

Steven Udvar-Hazy of International Lease Finance Corp (IFLC) has told a JPMorgan official that structural design changes have to be made to the 787's center wing box, which would require throwing the aircraft away RETROFITS to the first two flight test aircraft that are in production. He also predicted in his crystal ball that the 787 would not make its first flight until this fall and that another year would be needed for FAA certification. What this means to Boeing and Japan's All Nippon Airways is that the first 787 delivery would be pushed back until 3Q 2009, or 1.5 years behind the original date of May 2008.

I know this is not unheard of or a complete shocker, but it seems the delays are mounting for this great concept of an aircraft. Only time will tell. Expect a formal announcement from Boeing in April, after they conduct a detailed review of program missed milestones.

SHOCKER: 787 program faces...another delay!

A Goldman Sachs report recently released is indicating that the Boeing 787 program is about to hit another delay. This whole project has taught them a thing or two about supply chains. New power-up time frames are looking at April, with maybe...maybe a first flight by June. Deliveries of the first aircraft are now slipping to 3Q 2009. Boeing's thoughts are parallel to George W. Bush's comments on the recession: "What delays? I wouldn't call this a delay."