Boeing swears that it's going to have the first 787 Dreamliner up in the air before the end of this year, and despite a series of delays and schedule adjustments, the company seems to be making progress.
According to Flightblogger, Boeing CEO Jim McNerney confirmed that the company had reached an important milestone – the first movement of the plane's hydraulic systems, including the 787's ailerons, rudder, flaperons, and some of its spoilers.
During Boeing's earnings conference call yesterday (the company didn't have a great quarter), McNerney pointed out that in addition to the successful hydraulics test, Boeing had also completed a test on the 787's horizontal stabilizer, and last month wrapped up its Power On testing.
Power On is a complex series of procedures that measure the integrity of the plane's electrical systems, and while it's no cakewalk to understand, Boeing has put together an excellent interactive website that helps demystify it.
Next up? Boeing will continue to run functional systems tests on the plane, including retraction and stowage of its landing gear. First flight is scheduled to take place sometime between October and the end of the year.
Photo: Boeing Media
