787 Smokes ‘Em Up

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Key Takeaways:

  • The Boeing 787 Dreamliner's first flight has been delayed pending engineering fixes to strengthen its wing attachments.
  • Despite the flight delay, the aircraft successfully underwent its initial taxi tests at Paine Field, reaching speeds of approximately 100 knots and confirming the functionality of its brakes.
  • Boeing has not announced any further testing or a new date for the Dreamliner's inaugural flight.
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Although a first flight for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner will have to wait until engineering fixes strengthen the wing attachments, that doesn’t mean the aircraft has to sit idle. Engineers and test pilots got to run it up and down the runway at Paine Field last Tuesday in its first taxi tests. The aircraft reached speeds of about 100 knots in at least one run and the brakes were tested. They apparently work.

Boeing hasn’t announced any further testing, and a date for the first flight still hasn’t been determined.

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