BOEING COMPLETES 787 DREAMLINER STATIC TEST ANALYSIS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (Bernama) -– Boeing, last Thursday,completed the
review and analysis of the static test to validate the side-of-body modification
made to its 787 Dreamliner.

Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 programme,said
the 787 team had completed the final gauntlet of testing on the first
airplane.

"Testing lasted just two days because only improvements made earlier this
year during previous testing had to be examined," said Fancher, in a statement
here Monday.

He added that the company was very pleased with the results of this final
functional testing.

"With the successful completion of static testing and this functional
testing, our focus now moves to the first flight," he explained.

During the test on the 787 Dreamliner static test airframe, the wing and
trailing edges of the airframe were subjected to their limit load — the highest
loads expected to be seen in service.

The limit-load test was required to clear the airplane for its maiden
flight.

Boeing’s test strategy is to conduct all limit-load tests and analyse data
before conducting the ultimate load series, which is also required for
certification and will be conducted next year.

Boeing had announced on June 23 that it was necessary to reinforce an area
of structure at the side-of-body section of the 787.

-- BERNAMA