Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes First Engine Runs

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The plan to get Boeing'sfirst 787Dreamliner off the ground by the end of June is one step closer tofruition, after the company last week completed the first engine runs on thecommercial jetliner, a Boeing spokeswoman says.

Spokeswoman Lori Gunter saysthe first engine tests ran about 40 minutes and will continue to last longer asthe airplane "is put through its paces."

During initial engine runs,the engines are started electronically in test facilities and operated atvarious power settings. "We fool the airplane into thinking it's flying,"Gunter says. Now, she says, the Dreamliner is out on the field and will undergointermediate and final gauntlet tests, which is the full simulation of thefirst flight utilizing the airplane's own power.

"Each time, the plane and itsengines are pushed a little farther," she says. "It is an exhaustive testing ofthe systems to make sure the plane is ready for its flight test program."

She says the plane isoperated under several different scenarios, including if an engine or any ofits components fail. The engines are also started, powered down and restartedfollowing technical reviews.

The 787 Dreamliner isexpected to fly for the first time at the end of June. A specific date has notbeen set, Gunter says.

Earlier this month, the first787, designated ZA001, completed a series of tests including buildverification tests, structures and systems integration tests, landing gearswings and factory gauntlet. The simulation tests all flight controls, hardwareand software and also included manual and automatic landings and severalsubsequent ground tests. It will undergo additional power and systems tests,engine runs and high-speed taxi tests prior to its first flight.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner Completes First Engine Runs A