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787-9 visits Auckland en route to Alice Springs hot weather trials

written by australianaviation.com.au | January 5, 2014

ZB002 touches down in Auckland. (Gerard Frawley)
ZB002 touches down in Auckland. (Gerard Frawley)

The second of three Boeing 787-9 flight test aircraft, ZB002, touched down in Auckland on Saturday evening en route to Alice Springs for week-long hot weather testing.

ZB002 landed at Auckland after a 13 hour, 49 minute direct flight from Seattle, with Boeing taking advantage of the 787-9’s first trip outside the US to show the aircraft to launch customer Air New Zealand en route to Australia. The kiwi flag carrier, which is due to take delivery of its first 787-9 in July, has ten on firm order and options for another eight.

The 787-9 test aircraft is due to fly to Alice Springs on Monday, routing via Brisbane where it will clear customs and immigration. Once at Alice Springs it will undertake a number of hot soak tests where the aircraft’s environmental control system’s ability to cool the aircraft, both on the ground and inflight, after prolonged periods sitting on the ground in temperatures above 38 deg C (100 deg F), will be tested.

ZB002 is also due to undertake autoland tests at Alice Springs, which are not hot weather dependent but have been added to the Alice Springs visit to ensure the most efficient utilisation of the aircraft.

To date the three 787-9 test aircraft (two, including ZB002, are Rolls- Royce Trent 1000 powered, the third has GEnx engines) have logged more than 400 flight hours on over 150 flights.

ZB002 at Auckland.
ZB002 at Auckland.

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Comments (9)

  • Ray E

    says:

    Any idea when the 787 will arrive at BNE?

    • australianaviation.com.au

      says:

      1000 local

  • Greg Hyde

    says:

    Boeing are the only people in Australia wishing that heatwave will continue !

    Maybe Boeing wants QF/JQ is upgrade some of their B787 options to the -9 Series.

  • What’s you time source AA? Here at YBBN we’ve been given 1200AEST arrival and 1500AEST departure? Weather activity for advancement in schedule?

    • australianaviation.com.au

      says:

      Boeing media advisory issued this evening

  • Brendan

    says:

    Slightly off subject, does anyone know why jetstars second 787 has been sitting idle at cairns airport for the last week?

  • Aaron

    says:

    2nd 787 in Cairns due to pre Christmas delivery. Apparently little storage space around other ports. All the casa and Jetstar people off on Christmas holidays.

  • Brendan

    says:

    I have been informed the reason the 787 hasn’t left cairns is due to landing gear problems, and they have been robbing parts to service the first Jetstar 787. I would believe that over not having anywhere to park it. Media spin.

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