787 test airframe moves to test rig

摘要

The Boeing Co.'s (Seattle, Wash.) 787 Dreamliner passed several milestones throughout the spring, including progress on the test airframe, start of assembly of airplane #3 and the addition of a new Tier 2 supplier. In April, the 787 static test airframe was moved from its Final Assembly facility in Everett, Wash., to its structural test rig. "During static tests we apply loads to the airplane structure that simulate both normal operation as well as extreme flight conditions," says Randy Harley, VP of engineering and technology for the 787 program. "We monitor the airplane to confirm analytical predictions and make sure the structure holds up to these conditions."