The Dreamliner has flown.
 

"Boeing said it needed to reinforce the area where the wings join the fuselage, with tests completed on that fix just two weeks ago."
:o

Is it possible to mimic severe wind sheer and other wing stresses in static testing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fucq5BoEfEI


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I think there will be considerable in flight tests made on every aspect of the aircraft's performance. I doubt it's going into passenger service before complete testing.
A TV show was made about the development and testing of the 777. I'd be real interested in one about 787. But since it's 2 years late getting into the air maybe Boeing's less than finest performance won't be made public.

Bam!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV_V4U0iX4w

I'm just not that crazy about the whole composite thing. Or fly by wire for that matter. But I guess theres no way to stop it now.

- Peter.

Fly by wire is pretty old technology now. I think the F-16 has had it for 30 years. And I think Airbus and the 777 have had it for 10 years at least.

What's not to love about composites?

Cool, I hope they take a chunk out of Airbus with it.:D

Daimler owns a pretty big piece of Airbus.

Daimler owns a lot of things, but I'm an American and I want to see Boeing wipe the floor with them.:D

I wonder who Boeing's major stockholders are? I wouldn't be amazed if they have plenty of investors from elsewhere (I have to wonder where all those dollars that are sent to china end up?).

I'm not sure they are as structurally sound as metal.

- Peter.

Yes, I know. I just don't know that it's better than what preceded it. I'm not that happy about having software interpret my inputs before they get to the flight surfaces. There is still a big question as to the cause of the Air France crash and a lot of what I've seen speculated upon (and yes I know it's only speculation) leads me to wonder if we haven't tried to do to much with computers when they are not strictly necessary.

Rather like the "drive by wire" systems controlling the gas pedals on new cars. Toyota's recent problems come to mind. The sudden accelleration, decelleration and shut off in traffic.

But like I said. There's probably little that can be done about it and maybe I'm just the kind of curmudgeon who'd feel happier driving a 240D than a McLaren SLK.

- Peter.

Elsewhere is likely China. Unless the Europeans are hedging their investment in Airbus.