The Boeing Co. (Everett, Wash., USA) reported on Nov. 16 that it has completed installing composite reinforcements within the side-of-body section on three 787 Dreamliners. One of the planes is the static test airframe; the other two planes will be flight tested. The modification entails installing new fittings at 34 stringer locations within the joint where the wing is attached to the fuselage. Installations were completed yesterday.

"Completing this work is a significant step toward first flight. We continue to be pleased with the progress of the team and remain confident the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner will occur before the end of the year," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "We will test the modification on the full-scale static test airframe later this month. As soon as we confirm the loads are being handled appropriately in the joint we will complete preflight activities on the airplane."

The static test airframe will be refitted with strain gauges and instrumentation required for testing. Access doors, systems, seals and fasteners removed from airplanes No. 1 and No.2 to provide access are being restored in preparation for continued testing on the airplane. Boeing continues to install fittings on the fatigue test airframe and the remaining flight-test airplanes. Other airplanes will be modified in the weeks ahead. Overall, the work on modifying airplanes is progressing well, Fancher said.

"We have a strong and capable team that has performed exceptionally well," Fancher said. "I'm very pleased with the team's dedication to meet our commitment to fly before the end of the year."

After airplane No. 1 is restored, the flight-test team will perform another set of gauntlet and taxi tests to ensure that all systems are ready for flight. Fancher noted that with the exception of a single high-speed taxi test, all remaining flight-test activities have been successfully completed on the first flight-test airplane.

In related news: The Wall Street Journal on Nov. 13 reported that Boeing also has discovered that metal bolts inside the wings of one of the six test airplanes were found to have caused delamination and cracking in surrounding composite materials. The report says that it isn't known whether the five other test-flight aircraft showed similar damage. Click here for original WSJ report.