Boeing's second 787 test aircraft has completed its first flight.
The aircraft - dubbed ZA002 - took off from Paine Filed at the company's Everett, Washington facility at 909 PT and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle at 1110 PT.
The aircraft, flown by Capt. Randy Neville and co-piloted by chief project pilot Mike Carriker, reached a maximum altitude of 3,962m (13,000ft) and a speed of 370kph (200kts) during the 2hr and 1min maiden flight.
ZA002, which featured the livery of launch customer All Nippon Airways, is powered by twin Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines and will primarily be responsible for systems testing during the nine-to-twelve month flight test programme.
ZA002 will accumulate the second most flight test hours after ZA001.
Early testing on ZA002, which is a fully instrumented aircraft, will establish the stability and control of the aircraft, followed by validation of the aircraft's electrical systems, avionics, propulsion and autopilot.
During the flight Neville and Carriker noted a conflict in the data coming back from the landing gear, which had previously been retracted and extended in flight.
Neville, who was the pilot in command, opted to abort his approach to Boeing Field and head back along an area near Port Townsend and Sequim, Washington.
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While Boeing did not identify the particular issue with the landing gear, one report by the Seattle Times noted that "part of the gear assembly" was "tilted to the aft by 15 degrees" citing a radio operator who overheard the conversations between ZA002 and the T-33 chase plane accompanying the aircraft.
Boeing declined to specify what was done to right this condition, but added that as part of the resolution the nose and main landing gear doors, typically stowed for landing, were deployed at touchdown.
With the conclusion of ZA002's first flight, the two flying 787s have amassed a total of 5hrs and 6min of flying time since 15 December.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
