Boeing has flown the third of three 787-9 Dreamliners dedicated to flight testing, and the first to be powered by General Electric GEnx engines. The all-white 787-9, serial ZB021, registered N789ZB, joined the fleet some two months from the inaugural flight of the first 787-9.
ZB021 took off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., at 12:15 p.m. local time Nov. 19, 2013, and landed 2 hours and 44 minutes later at Seattle's Boeing Field. Boeing will use ZB021 to test engine performance as well as airplane handling characteristics such as low-speed performance and braking.
The 787-9 test program continues to make progress; with the fleet flying regularly. The second airplane, now in Florida for climatic testing, has accumulated more than 180 flight hours and more than 60 flights. In addition to the three dedicated airplanes, Boeing also will conduct some testing on two production airplanes, the first of which is in final assembly in Everett.
Boeing officials say the company is on track to deliver the 787-9 to launch customer Air New Zealand in mid-2014. Thus far, 26 customers have ordered 396 787-9s, accounting for approximately 40% of all 787 orders.
According to Boeing sources, 787-10 development also is proceeding to plan.
Source: Boeing