Fatigue testing starts on 787

Boeing has announced that it has commenced fatigue testing a 787 test airframe, which will involve testing for how the structure responds over a simulated number of life cycles.

“Unlike static tests, where loads are applied to the airplane structure to simulate both normal operation and extreme flight conditions, fatigue testing is a much longer process that simulates up to three times the number of flight cycles an airplane is likely to experience during a lifetime of service,” said Jim Ogonowski, structures vice president at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.