Boeing completes the first flight of the second Dreamliner, ANA’s 787-881 N787BA

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Please click on photo for full view, information and other photos.

ANA (All Nippon Airways) Boeing 787-881 N787EX (msn 34488) PAE

Originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle, Wichita and Charleston) yesterday (December 22) completed the first flight of the second 787 Dreamliner, designated ZA002 (but actually the pictured 787-881 N787EX, msn 34488). The all-new airplane, which features the 1983 livery of the Dreamliner’s launch customer, ANA (All Nippon Airways) of Japan, took off from Paine Field in Everett, completed a two-hour flight and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle.

Boeing stated “We are delighted that the second Dreamliner is in the livery of our launch customer, ANA,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. “We are honored by the airline’s support and look forward to delivering ANA the first production airplane next year.”

Captain Randy Neville was at the controls for the flight, with Chief Pilot Mike Carriker operating as co-pilot. Neville and Carriker took the airplane to an altitude of 13,000 feet (3,962 m) and an airspeed of 200 knots, or about 230 miles (370 km) per hour. The airplane took off at 9:09 a.m. PST and landed at 11:10 a.m. PST.

This is the second of six 787s being used in the airplane’s flight-test program. Each of the airplanes will be used for a specific set of tests, with this airplane focusing on systems performance. Like its predecessor, ZA001, the airplane is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.

In other news, Boeing announced yesterday (December 22) it is taking full control of Global Aeronautica, the midfuselage plant in North Charleston, SC, by buying out its Italian supplier Alenia. In July, Boeing took over the Vought facility at North Charleston (CHS). CHS will be location of the second Dreamliner assembly plant.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean.