787 has flown

[vernicator]

The T-birds N416X and N109X are actually Canadair built machines. They really look sharp in Boeing paint.

[bluehawk15]

Well Pat, not a warbird YET, but you never know!!!! Stranger things have happened in the aviation world.

[The Inspector]

When the speeds start picking up above today's 160 kts. then Boeing will bring out the 'other' chase plane, a two seat F-5 'darn it honey, I have to go fly the supersonic chase plane today'
Raw video of the takeoff and landing and post landing press conference with the pilots (and the usual inane, stupid, repetitive questions) can be seen via a link @ www.KING5.com which is the
Seattle NBC affiliate.

Everyone @ work today was grinning like we'd all had a shot of Thorazine, what a weight to get off our collective backs

[JDK]

Everyone @ work today was grinning like we'd all had a shot of Thorazine, what a weight to get off our collective backs

My sincere congratulations, mate! It *is* a big achievement (notwithstanding my comments on another thread) and the boys and girls at Boeing should be proud and pleased.

I look forward to seeing if it smells different when inside...

Regards,

[bdk]

And something sure to interest Iclo, congratulations from Airbus!

Airbus congratulates "robust rival" Boeing on 787
Reuters News 12/15/2009
(C) Reuters Limited 2009.

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus (EAD.PA) congratulated Boeing (BA.N) after its arch-rival completed a maiden flight of the 787 Dreamliner on Tuesday and promised "robust" competition from its own lightweight plane.

"Airbus congratulates the people of Boeing on this important achievement in their history," Airbus spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said in comments send by email.

"The first flight of the 787 underscores the continual advancements in commercial aircraft that come about because of healthy competition. We look forward to a continued robust rivalry with our A350 XWB," he said. The A350 so far exists only on paper and has been outsold by the Boeing 787, but is designed to enter service from 2013. The two models are fighting over a lucrative new market for mid-sized jets giving fuel savings through composite materials.

Boeing's 787 is due to enter service in late 2010.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher)

[Pat Carry]

also check www.newairplane.com

[the330thbg]

did they retract the gear?

[davidbray]

i think they said that they did retract the gear, but most of the flight was done with the gear and flaps down.

[The Inspector]

The gear was retracted, and in the post flight interview both pilots said that when it went back down and locked they exchanged a really big 'High 5". The flaps were also moved from 20 (takeoff) to 30 (landing) and back a few times.