"Boeing 787 passes test flight" by Joshua Freed | Associated Press, April 06, 2013
The 787 Dreamliner has been grounded since mid-January because of smoldering batteries, including a fire on the ground in Boston.
Boeing has designed what it says is a fix, including more heat insulation and a battery box designed so that any meltdown of the lithium-ion battery will vent the hot gases outside of the plane.
On March 12, the Federal Aviation Administration approved Boeing’s plan to test the redesigned battery system, and Friday’s flight test was the final part of that plan.
The same plane, built for LOT Polish Airlines, flew on Monday in a pre-delivery check flight, where pilots did things like raise and lower the landing gear and run backup systems.
The FAA will still need to approve the results and certify the battery system before airlines can fly 787s again.
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What I did manage to salvage:
"US investigating jet’s engine malfunction; Debris falls from new Dreamliner, sparks grass fire" Associated Press, July 30, 2012
The jet is one of Boeing’s most critical products. The company delivered the first 787, known as the Dreamliner, last year following several years of design and production delays.
Airlines set record orders for the jet, as its lightweight, high-tech design was expected to offer travelers more comfort, provide airlines significant fuel savings, and open up new routes....
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From what I understand one of the problems is they built the thing on the cheap. Gotta love that AmeriKan bu$ine$$ model.
