Credit: Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Check out this photo. Doesn’t it look like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner taking off? Apparently, it’s part of high speed taxi tests where the plane noses up but does not take off (the Seattle Times reported the picture shows the plane performing a simulated rejected takeoff).
Late Saturday, Boeing said high speed taxi tests were completed successfully in advance of the new airplane’s maiden voyage planned for Tuesday at 10 PT from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. Boeing reported the plane hit speeds of 150 MPH.
“Our pilots told me the airplane performed beautifully,” said vice president and chief project engineer for the 787 Mike Delaney in a press release. “We’re going through and analyzing the data to ensure we’re ready for first flight. From evaluations we’ve done so far, everything looks good.”
But don’t let what appears to be good weather in the photo fool you. Tuesday’s forecast for Seattle is 90 per cent chance of rain. Boeing has cautioned that the Tuesday planned flight is subject to weather conditions. The highly-anticipated flight could be pushed to the next day for which Weather.com says there’s only only a 40 per cent of rain.
Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx said the following about the weather needed to pull off the historic flight.
“In general, Boeing policy for first flight weather conditions calls for good visibility, no standing water on the runway and gentle or no winds.”
Remember the movie Sleepless in Seattle? The remake for me could be Stuck in Seattle.
Complete coverage of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner on SmartPlanet:
- A 787 Dreamliner primer in advance of first flight Tuesday
- Boeing marks Dec. 15 for first 787 flight, sunny day wanted
- Waiting for Boeing to announce timing of 787’s maiden voyage
- No verdict yet on completed tests to 787 wing repairs
- A great shot of the 787 Dreamliner
- Boeing fixes two more 787s, repeats first flight will be in ‘09
- Boeing 787 repaired wings encounter new composite problem
- Is Boeing opting to expand in S.C. really a good idea?
- New 747-8 Freighter soon to take off
- Top 787 exec Scott Carson to retire
- Boeing 787, the book and the movie: I can’t wait
- Boeing eats first three 787s, stretches flight test schedule
- Boeing 787 maiden flight reset for Q4
- Is 787 Dreamliner novel manufacturing strategy on the rocks?
- Boeing’s Candor on 787 Delay
- Boeing 787 Delay Call Live
- Boeing 787 First Flight Delayed Again
- Boeing 787 “Gauntlet” videos worth a look
- Boeing 787 Dreamliner mitigates turbulence
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