Second 787 test flight to take off in 30 minutes
The second test flight of a Boeing 787 is slated to take off in about a half an hour. Boeing confirmed the second of six test airplanes will go up for about an hour and take off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., and land at Boeing Field in Seattle. Estimated time of departure is 8:45 a.m. PT.
ZA002, decked out in the ANA Airlines paint scheme, is focused on testing systems performance. ANA is slated to be the first 787 commercial customer, but Boeing will not deliver this specific plane. It is a test plane only.
Each of the six test planes focuses on testing something different. For example, ZA003 will put the plane's environmental systems (cabin pressure, AC, air quality etc.) through their paces, according to Boeing spokesman Scott Lefeber.
He added that the weather is better than what Boeing was dealt for first flight. It is presently about 40 degrees and overcast with almost no wind.
The same two test pilots as on the first flight will be at the controls only this time they will swap seats. In command will be Boeing Captain Randy Neville seated on the left. The co-pilot will be 787 Chief Test Pilot Mike Carriker. I will update this post upon the flight's completion including a photo.
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This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com