Next step the sky for Boeing Dreamliner

The first flight for the long-delayed 787 Dreamliner is scheduled for around 7am on Wednesday morning (NZT).

High-speed taxi testing was successfully completed yesterday at Everett in Washington state and the four to five-hour flight will go ahead if there are favourable conditions.

Boeing policy for first flight weather calls for good visibility, no standing water on the runway and gentle or no wind.

A successful maiden flight will mark a critical milestone for Boeing and will offer hope to impatient airlines which have seen the jetliner delayed for more than two and a half years.

Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the larger version of the plane, the 787-9, which was due to be delivered next year. The airline will now have to wait until 2013 before it gets the first of its eight planes on order.

The test flight has been delayed at least five times and has added billions of dollars to development costs, including penalties to airlines.

The 787 uses lightweight materials including carbon fibre-reinforced plastic and has an advanced electrical system.


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