Boeing 787 Fuselage Barrel Passes Key Tests

A small but significant snippet from the 787 program emerged today when Boeing confirmed that tests on the fuselage had been completed successfully, validating the airplanes unique composite, monolithic structure.

“The tests were very successful — they couldn’t have gone any better,” said Kevin Davis, 787 fuselage authorized representative and leader of the testing.

Image courtesy of Boeing

Another interesting excerpt from the Boeing press release states the following:

Finally, the team pushed the composite section past ultimate load well beyond ultimate load to a destruct-condition maneuver beyond two and a half times the force of gravity.

With the countdown to first flight already in full swing, the test validation will likely spur Boeing to eventually replace its 777 family using a similar technique and structure - although the timing is still up in the air, particularly as the threat from the A350XWB family has yet to be defined.

7 comments February 28th, 2008