So it just might fly afterall....
Boeing Completes Static Testing on 787 Reinforcements
By: Gregory Polek
December 1, 2009
Aircraft
Boeing has finished the static tests needed to validate the side-of-body modification made to the 787 Dreamliner, the company announced yesterday. Boeing said it expects to conclude a full analysis of the test results in about 10 days. The program needs a successful test result to clear the airplane for its planned first flight next month.
During yesterday’s test on the 787’s static test airframe, engineers subjected the wing and trailing edges of the airframe to the highest loads expected in service. The load amounts to about 2.5 times the force of gravity for the wing.
Boeing
announced on June 23 that it would have to reinforce an area of structure at the side-of-body section of the 787. The modification entails installing new fittings at 34 stringer locations within the joint where the wing attaches to the fuselage. The company
completed modifications on the first two flight-test airplanes and the full-scale static test airplane earlier this month.
“Today’s test was an important milestone for the program,” said 787 program vice president and general manager Scott Fancher. “We will confirm the test results after the completion of our detailed analysis.”