Boeing (NYSE:BA) 787 Dreamliner pilots conducted the program's first stall tests - in which pilots intentionally reduce power to both engines and then recover normal flight speeds - as part of the initial airworthiness program for the airplane. Additional stall tests will take place throughout the flight test period.
The testing went "very well and there were no surprises," said 787 Chief Pilot Mike Carriker.
The purpose of the testing is to demonstrate that in the rare event a pilot encounters a stall during flight, the airplane reacts benignly and allows for a smooth recovery. A stall is defined as flying so slowly that the airplane is no longer generating lift.
During stall maneuvers pilots use a disciplined process to slow the airplane down at precise increments to the point where it shakes dramatically, resulting in forces of 1.5 times the force of gravity.
Video highlights and an interview with Carriker are featured in a three-minute video on a new 787 flight test Web site that is being launched today. The site can be accessed at either www.boeing.com or www.newairplane.com.
To receive updates on the 787 flight test program, go to the Web site and click on the RSS feed icon in the right column, near the top of the site.
