Boeing has nominated March 28 as the date for it to conduct ultimate load testing on the 787’s wing, which will see it flexed to 150 per cent of its load limit.
The test will be conducted on the company’s static test airframe ZY997, and will see the load gradually brought up to 150 per cent of its load limit, rather than the point of destruction as has been done on other programs. The FAA requires that the wing we able to withstand such a load for four seconds as part of its type certification requirements.
The first 787-8 is due to be delivered during the final quarter of the year to launch customer All Nippon Airlines.
