Yesterday, United Airline’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off from Paine Field on its first test flight. Luckily Malcolm Muir and Boeing were there to catch some great photos.
The three hour flight took the 787 over Washington state and northern Oregon before heading back to Paine Field. During the flight, Boeing crew members put the 787’s systems through multiple tests.
United is expected to take delivery of its first of 50 Dreamliners in late September.
United’s first 787 takes off from Paine Field. Image from United.
And we have lift off. Image from United.
United’s first 787 returns to Paine Field on August 19th. Image by Malcolm Muir.
United’s 787 touches down in Everett. Image by Malcolm Muir.
United’s 787 Taxiing at Paine Field. Image by Malcolm Muir.
Sweet! I’m liking that livery more and more. Thanks David.
I know that the United pilots that will be flying the 787 would have training in the simulator, but would they be a part of any of the test flying by Boeing?
Usually before the plane is officially handed over to an airline the airline will conduct one or two test flights to check whether all the systems work properly. Those flights will be flown with pilots from the airline (though their might also be a Boeing crew). With delivery only in late September it’s unlikely that there would be United pilots involved already, unless it is part of their training.
Great photo’s, I think the ‘wavy line’ looks good too. I wonder if it will eventually be used across the fleet or will it be just a ‘787’ thing.
In the 3rd photo, on approach, you can clearly see the emergency generator deployed below the centre section between the mainwheels (small propeller on a post!). I’ve never seen that on a first flight before and wondered if they’d had a problem?
I’m guessing they’re just checking out if the deployment works.
this plane looks better flying than on the ground. beauty.
This is a production test flight, testing many systems, and the RAT (Ram Air Turbine) was one of them.