777-200LR Flight Test Journal: Archives

28 June 2005

Approaching mid-point

Joe Kranak

Chief Engineer, Test and Validation, 747, 767, 777

As we close out the month of June, this might be a good time to update the status of the two airplanes and of the flight test program overall.

WD001, the first 777-200LR Worldliner and the airplane that is doing the majority of the certification testing, recently returned from its third deployment at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Completion of testing at Edwards is important because it means that flight conditions where we approach the edges of the envelope are now behind us.

Top among these types of tests is validation of the aircraft's minimum controllable speed while on the ground - Vmcg as it's known among the test community. These tests are required for certification of all multi-engine aircraft. When completed successfully, they demonstrate that an airplane remains controllable should an engine fail on its takeoff roll.

Edwards is among the best places in the world for these tests because the extra-long and extra-wide runways provide ample space for the flight crews to "set up conditions," and there's plenty of room to recover following their completion.

For Vmcg testing, the 200LR is configured with ballast and fuel to simulate a normally loaded aircraft. It's positioned on the runway, and take-off power is applied to both engines. When the aircraft has reached a sufficient speed, the power to one of the two engines is "chopped" with no advance warning to the pilot. The pilot must maneuver the airplane to a safe stop without swerving laterally outside of a 30-foot limit on either side of the runway centerline. As expected, the 777-200LR Worldliner (and pilots) performed flawlessly.

Having completed testing at Edwards, WD001 will continue its demanding test flight schedule through the remainder of the summer around the Seattle area - although brief excursions to remote locations will also be required.

Meanwhile, WD002, which is primarily supporting marketing activities, recently completed a successful 10-day appearance at the Paris Air Show. It is now in the early days of a World Tour where it's showing off its premium interior, auxiliary fuel tanks and other enhancements to VIPs in government, finance and the airline industry. Last week WD002 performed static displays and flight demos in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Islamabad, Karachi, and Doha.

This week, stops will include Beijing followed by Hong Kong and Taipei. Upon its return to Seattle, and after its crew and support personnel reacquaint themselves with home and family, the airplane will undergo routine maintenance before beginning its assigned tests in support of overall type certification.

The pace at which both airplanes have been performing has exceeded all the expectations set at the beginning of the program. Here's where we are so far:

Both Test Teams have been performing on a par with the best championship-caliber Indy 500 teams. In flight testing, just as in top-rung racing, track conditions and weather can significantly affect the outcome. The best teams overcome the unexpected by having a strategy and plan in place to deal with contingencies well before the race begins.

Similarly, our Test Directors, John Corrigan and Kevin Caldwell, and their pit crews led by Pat Bairey, Ed Cogswell, Mike Davis, Scott Hagen, Dave Ingebright , Clint Johnson, and Dennis Quinlan have been able to respond to the unexpected and keep the program on track. Their pre-planning has prevented weather conditions, runway closures, and other unforeseen events from affecting our overall schedule.

As we approach the mid-point of the program, our energy level is only increasing.