Boeing Wraps Phase 2 Of Gauntlet Tests for 787

Boeing earlier thisweek wrapped up the second phase of gauntlet testing on its path to get the 787Dreamliner to first flight, including tests on about one week's worth of operationson the airplane along with hundreds of discrete test conditions.

During the testing, pilots and engineers simulated multiplescenarios commanding all 92 airplane systems as if the aircraft, designated theZA001, were in flight, including power, avionics and flight controls. In his blogjournal of the 787's path to flight, Randy Tinseth, vice president,marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, provides a description of what the"intermediate gauntlet" entails. Essentially a series of test scenarios, thegauntlet puts the ZA001 through its paces just as if it were in flight, eventhough it's still on the ground, Tinseth says. Pilots man the controlsduring this test period, and a team of engineers sit at workstations in theback of the plane. All the crew is on board for the duration of the "flight,"Tinseth says, and the testing goes as far as to serve meals on board andensure that lavatories are working.

The test scenarios, which include long-duration standardflights as well as simulations of single and multiple systems failures duringflights, are run day and night. Once the aircraft "lands," Tinseth says there'seven a crew waiting to clean up, inspect and refuel and restock the airplanejust as it were a real flight.
"The team has done an incredible job supporting an exhaustive testregimen," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787program, in prepared remarks. "I couldn't be more proud. We will continue totake a hard look at the results, make adjustments and finish up our testing sowe can get to first flight."