The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has been flying for quite some time now and Boeing is excited to have finalized the configuration for the Boeing 787-9. The 787-9 is 20 feel longer, which might seem easy, but takes a lot of additional changes. To learn more, check out the video and Boeing’s website.
Thanks Chris S!
What a day!
I arrived at the Future of Flight at about 9am to get ready for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner ZA005 to take flight. The weather wasn’t doing so great with mist, fog, and a low ceiling. There was no official time, but I was guessing 10am based on previous first flights. I thought the plan would be for ZA005 to complete high-speed taxi tests and then take off. However, time kept going and ZA005 just sat there. I heard a few different rumors of the reason, from a low ceiling to the chase plane not being ready. At least we got to watch a brand new Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 take off and land.
I had worked hard (took me three different ways) to get my iPhone hooked up to my tri-pod, so I could do a live feed while recording in HD, but I ended up having to tear it apart anyhow.
At 12:20pm I had to leave for an appointment I couldn’t miss. Since I promised a live feed, I left my iPhone with Sandy at the Future of Flight to do the live feed for me (THANK YOU SO MUCH SANDY)! However at about 2pm I got done with my appointment and made my way to a computer and saw the ZA005 had not taken off. BOO YA!
I hurried back and as I pull in I could see people along the fence still watching, so I knew I hadn’t missed anything. I grabbed my video camera and ran. Just as I got to the top of the hill and video camera turned on, ZA005 started rolling. For just running up a hill and not having a tri-pod ready, I don’t think the video turned out half bad.
I am never going to get sick of watching the 787 Dreamliner take off. They are so graceful, queit and oh man watching those wings bend is amazing. I am going to write up a blog with a little more information on these new GEnx engines being tested out today.
Over all I think the live feed function went well. By the time ZA005 took off there were 250 people watching the feed. I am excited to use that feature in future events.
Below is some media and I will be updating this as more becomes available:
* 48 of my photos of today’s event on Flickr
* Liz Matzelle’s awesome video from the other side of the runway
* Live video via my iPhone of the take of ZA005 from the Future of Flight Strato Deck
* Video from a helicopter from KING5 News — check out the gear going up and back down!
* Photos of ZA005 from the Seattle PI
* Photos from the Everett Herald
* Other live video commentary from the morning’s events
Updated last:
Up early this morning to get all prepared (ie get like 10 gadgets charged) for Boeing’s fifth 787 Dreamliner (but first with GEnx engines) to take flight. In about an hour, I will be heading over to the Future of Flight to get set up. ZA005 is scheduled to take off at 10am PST, but it could be delayed due to weather, low cielings, technical issues or a number of other things. When she does fly, I will be providing a live streaming video from my iPhone. If you want towatch, follow these steps:
1) Make sure to have this webpage open: http://qik.com/airlinereporter/ Just leave it open through the morning until the first flight happens.
2) When there is no live video it will just show my most recent videos (it should look like this). It looks like it might be the wrong page but don’t worry, it is correct…
3) When I go live, a video will automatically start (so make sure you have sound where you want it, otherwise it will be a shock).
4) After I go live, it will go back to the previous view and the video will be viewable from that page.
I will probably do a check-in or two throughout the morning. Be sure to check my Twitter, @ImperfectSense, @PIBoeing, @FutureofFlight and #ZA005 for details. I will try to update this blog as often as I can until lift off.
UPDATE 11am: ZA005 had its strobes on and engines started, but at this point they are all off. Word is things are still going to happen. Flight Aware is still showing take off at 10:40am (that was 20min ago). The weather was misty and foggy earlier, but it is clearing up. I had to do a few tests, but I now have my iPhone attached to my camcorder. Check out my engineering skills (thanks Sandy for taking that).
UPDATE 11:10am: Now hearing 11:30 ZA005 should make movement, Noon for take off. Still no strobes.
UPDATE 11:35am: Lots of rumors going around with Boeing people, GE people and the media. But word now is Boeing will cut the high speed taxi test and fly at noon.
UPDATE 12:10pm: Waiting on just 100 more feet of ceiling (cloud level) until take off. No strobes.
UPDATE 12:20pm: Bad news. I have to leave. I have another engagement that I must make. The good news is Sandy at the Future of Flight (@FutureofFlight) has agreed to do the live feed, so you won’t miss out on anything!
UPDATE 4:45pm: Everything went great, even though delayed. You can find out more and see videos and photos here.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner ZA005 at Paine Field. I took this photo earlier today from the Future of Flight
I have received word that the fifth Boeing 787 Dreamliner (ZA005) will be conducting taxi tests early next week and hearing first flight maybe mid-week. Being the fifth 787 to take flight, it might just seem like another day for most people, but the ZA005 is significant. It will be the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner to lift off using General Electric GEnx engines. The first four (ZA001, ZA002, ZA003, ZA004) have all flow with Rolls Royce Trent 1000 engines.
You can be sure I will be there to cover the lift off. I am interested to see how the GEnx engines sound versus the RR ones.
I was looking around for some photos of ZA005 with the GEnx engines, but wasn’t finding any. It is such a beautiful day, I decided to head to Paine Field and get some of my own. While getting ZA005 photos, I also got quite a few other ones. One of the benefits of living in the Seattle area!
I was also playing with streaming live video and got it to work, so I am hoping to offer this during first flight of ZA005 as well. If you want to be notified anytime I am doing a live feed, make sure to create a QIK account and add me as a friend.
MEDIA:
* All photos of trip to KPAE today
* Test videos from today
* Photos I Tweeted
* Aerial shot of ZA005 from a Cessna by Liz Matzelle
Capt. Ishii and Capt. Carriker relax in the flight deck between missions. From Boeing.
To be one of the lucky few that get to fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Until recently, only Boeing folks got the opportunity to fly the airplane. Two All Nippon Airways, who will be the Dreamliner’s first customer, pilots got to take the Dreamliner for a spin.
The flight lasted about two and a half hours, but won’t count towards the Dreamliner’s certification.
This also we are one step closer for the first Boeing 787 to be delivered and the general public gets to start flying in them!