Airborne at last!

The aircraft was piloted by 787 chief pilot Michael Carriker and engineering pilot Randall Neville, who took ZA001 (registered N787BA) east of Everett over the east end of the Strait of Juan de Franca. The aircraft reached an altitude of 15,000ft and a speed of 180kt, typical figures for a first flight, Boeing said.

“We learned more about this airplane in the first 10 minutes of flying than we have in the last 100 days,” Carriker told media after the flight.

“Is it a relief? Yes. Was it great fun? Yes. Would I like to go and get another 80,000lb of gas and good weather and go again? You bet I would,” said Carriker, who noted that ZA001’s next flight was expected within a week after it had been fitted with further flight test instrumentation.

“Today is truly a proud and historic day for the global team who has worked tirelessly to design and build the 787 Dreamliner – the first all-new jet airplane of the 21st century,” said Boeing’s vice president and general manager of the 787 program, Scott Fancher. “We look forward to the upcoming flight test program and soon bringing groundbreaking levels of efficiency, technology and passenger comfort to airlines and the flying public. ” December 15’s flight followed the completion of static tests of the wing join modifications (which fixed the cause of the latest 787 program delays) and final gauntlet testing, which validated aircraft systems performance in a simulated flight. These milestones were then followed by a series of high speed taxi tests on December 12, the last of which saw the aircraft reach a speed of 130kt and momentarily lift its nosewheel off the runway.

First flight marks the commencement of a flight test and certification program which should lead to US FAA certification and first customer deliveries (to launch customer All Nippon Airlines) in late 2010.

Six 787s will be involved in the flight test program, which will entail 3100 flight hours and over 3100 hours of ground tests. The next 787 to fly, ZA002 (which is painted in ANA colours), was expected to get airborne a week or so after ZA001’s historic flight. The 787 getting airborne will have been a huge relief for Boeing’s management, who will have been relieved at this very firm evidence of progress in the program, which is running two and a half years late.

At the time of the 787’s rollout in July 2007, Boeing expected the 787 to fly that September, but a series of production and technical issues led to a series of delays.

Well known aerospace industry analyst Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group welcomed the first flight, but warned of possible further hiccups which may yet emerge now that flight testing has begun.

“It’s hard to say how much revamping will need to be done” Aboulafia was reported as saying. “It doesn’t totally outweigh an impressive first flight, but it’s in the background and remains an issue. ” The 787’s 56 customers, who between them have ordered 840 aircraft, will be watching that closely. But for now, first flight was cause for celebration.

“On the eve of Christmas it is really pleasing to see the first flight. Our organisation is really pleased to see the reality of it, it sends all the right messages,” said Simon Westaway, head of corporate communications for Jetstar.

Jetstar is due to place its first 787, a 787-9, in service in mid 2013. The Qantas Group has 50 787s on order, half of which are planned for Jetstar.

“It is step change technology, and for us it will be a very important part of Jetstar’s international growth,” Westaway said, noting the 787 should bring a similar ‘halo effect’ as the Qantas Group experienced with the Airbus A380.

“From the customer’s perspective we think the inflight experience will be a really good one. ” The other local airline to have ordered the 787 is Air New Zealand, which has eight 787-9s on order for delivery from early 2013.

Analysts estimate Boeing has invested more than US$10 billion in developing the aircraft.