Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner completes maiden trip

Late by two years due to delays in design and construction, the flight marked another milestone for Boeing since the launch of ‘777’ airliner 15 years ago.

Mike Carriker and Randy Neville, the test pilots, were the only people aboard the maiden test flight which evaluated the plane’s systems and performance before more thorough tests are carried out.

Neville said, “It was a joy to fly. The sight of the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, framed in the left cockpit window of a 787 at 10,000 feet “will be in my mind for the rest of my life”.

More tests lined up for the Dreamliner
Later flights that are to begin next week will test the jet’s emergency simulation powers, and after adding more equipment, the aircraft will also be tested in stormy weather.

As of now, only half of the intended certification points were attained by the ‘787 Dreamliner’ as rain clouds and thunderstorm hindered the visibility of the pilots who had to turn back every 15 minutes.

Even the planned speed could not be reached owing to the bad weather. The weather also forced the jetliner to land in three hours instead of the five hours planned air trip set for the aircraft by Boeing Company.

All Nippon Airways impressed with the Dreamliner
Mitsuo Morimoto, the vice president of All Nippon Airways Co., the Japanese carrier that is the first to receive the Dreamliner was impressed with the performance of the jet. The delivery is planned for late 2010.

“After the test flight, I feel confident the schedule will be on time and we will receive the aircraft as scheduled,” says Mitsuo Morimoto.

Six test jets will be manufactured after receiving the certification from the Aviation authorities for the 250-seater 787 Dreamliner, which will also be the first commercial plane to be built with a plastic fuselage and an all-electric system.

Going by the current schedule, the ‘787 Deamliner’ jet is estimated to be in commercial use by Christmas in 2010.