Aviation News Item: 00131

13th Nov 2009

Source: ubmaviationnews.com

Boeing said it has completed installing reinforcements within the side-of-body section on the first 787. The modification entails installing new fittings at 34 stringer locations within the joint where the wing is attached to the fuselage. The company said that installations on the prototype were completed on Wednesday (November 11) and that it expected to complete the installations on the static test airframe and the second flight-test aircraft "in the coming days". Scott Fancher, VP and GM of the 787 programme said: "We remain confident the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner will occur before the end of the year We will test the modification on the full-scale static test airframe later this month." He noted that with the exception of a single high-speed taxi test, all remaining flight-test activities have been successfully completed on the first flight-test aircraft.

Separately, Boeing said that the first 747-8 aircraft has been towed out of the factory in Everett, Washington. The freighter, ultimately destined for Cargolux, is to be painted and begin preparations for flight test.

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