DTN News: Boeing Provides First Look At 787 Stall Tests

DTN News: Boeing Provides First Look At 787 Stall Tests *Source: DTN News / Boeing (NSI News Source Info) EVERETT, Wash., - January 29, 2010: Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner pilots conducted the program's first stall tests - in which pilots intentionally reduce power to both engines and then recover normal flight speeds - as part of the initial airworthiness program for the airplane. The second Boeing 787 Dreamliner, ZA002, completed its first flight on Dec. 22, 2009. The all-new airplane, which features the livery of the Dreamliner's launch customer, ANA (All Nippon Airways) of Japan, took off from Paine Field in Everett, completed a two-hour flight and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle. “We are delighted that the second Dreamliner is in the livery of our launch customer, ANA,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. “We are honored by the airline’s support and look forward to delivering ANA the first production airplane next year.” Captain Randy Neville was at the controls for the flight, with Chief Pilot Mike Carriker operating as co-pilot. Neville and Carriker took the airplane to an altitude of 13,000 feet (3,962 m) and an airspeed of 200 knots, or about 230 miles (370 km) per hour. The airplane took off at 9:09 a.m. PST and landed at 11:10 a.m. PST. This is the second of six 787s being used in the airplane's flight-test program. Each of the airplanes will be used for a specific set of tests, with this airplane focusing on systems performance. Like its predecessor, ZA001, the airplane is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Additional stall tests will take place throughout the flight test period. The testing went "very well and there were no surprises," said 787 Chief Pilot Mike Carriker. The purpose of the testing is to demonstrate that in the rare event a pilot encounters a stall during flight, the airplane reacts benignly and allows for a smooth recovery. A stall is defined as flying so slowly that the airplane is no longer generating lift. During stall maneuvers pilots use a disciplined process to slow the airplane down at precise increments to the point where it shakes dramatically, resulting in forces of 1.5 times the force of gravity. Video highlights and an interview with Carriker are featured in a three-minute video on a new 787 flight test Web site that is being launched today. The site can be accessed at either http://www.boeing.com/ or http://www.newairplane.com/.