Fri, Mar 12, 2010
Remaining Two Test Airplanes Can Now Begin Flight Tests
Initial airworthiness testing on the Boeing 747-8 freighter has
been completed, enabling test engineers to be on board during
future flights and allows the remaining two 747-8 freighter test
airplanes to begin flight test.
"The airplane is performing as expected in the initial stages of
flight test," said Mo Yahyavi, vice president and general manager
of the 747 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "That's a tribute
to the men and women who helped design and build this
airplane."
Since the first flight in early February, the program has
conducted 13 flights, achieving several key accomplishments. Pilots
have taken the airplane to an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,144 m) and
a speed of Mach .65. The program has completed approximately 33
hours of flying. Initial stall tests and other dynamic maneuvers
have been run, as well as an extensive checkout of the airplane's
systems. Five different pilots have flown the newest Boeing
freighter.
"This is a critical milestone in our test and certification
plan," said Andy Hammer, test program manager for the 747-8, Boeing
Commercial Airplanes. "With the addition of the other two airplanes
in the near future, the test program will ramp up significantly. We
will expand the flight envelope and demonstrate the airplane's
capabilities."
In the weeks ahead, the 747-8 Freighter will reach an altitude
of more than 43,000 feet (13,106 m) and a speed of Mach .97.
Subsequent testing will push the airplane beyond expected
operational conditions. Flight testing is expected to continue for
several months. All told, the 747-8 Freighter test program calls
for approximately 3,700 hours of testing using three test
airplanes. First delivery is planned for the fourth quarter of this
year.
Boeing has secured 108 orders for the 747-8, 76 of which are
orders for the new freighter.
More News
Airbus Racer Demonstrator Makes Inaugural Flight Airbus Helicopters' ambitious Racer demonstrator has achieved its inaugural flight as part of the Clean Sky 2 initiative, a corners>[...]
A little Bit Quieter, Said Testers, But in the End it's Still a DA40 Diamond Aircraft recently completed a little pilot project with Lufthansa Aviation Training, putting a pair of >[...]
Line Up And Wait (LUAW) Used by ATC to inform a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway to line up and wait. It is not authorization for takeoff. It is used when takeoff clearance >[...]
Contributing To The Accident Was The Pilot’s Use Of Methamphetamine... Analysis: The pilot departed on a local flight to perform low-altitude maneuvers in a nearby desert val>[...]
From 2015 (YouTube Version): Overcoming Obstacles To Achieve Their Dreams… At EAA AirVenture 2015, FedEx arrived with one of their Airbus freight-hauling aircraft and placed>[...]
Airbus Racer Helicopter Demonstrator First Flight Part of Clean Sky 2 Initiative
See All