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Live Coverage: 787 First Trent 1000 Engine Start, Part Two

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ZA001-EngineStart_900.jpgZA001-EngineStart2_900.jpg ZA001-EngineStart3_900.jpg
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Trent1krunning.jpg5:39 PM: Boeing's official release indicates that today marked, "The first all-electric start of a commercial jetliner engine on a commercial jetliner."

Adding that the electrical power used to start the Trent 1000s was drawn from the Hamilton Sundstrand Auxiliary Power System, not an external ground cart.

Boeing says the initial runs lasted about 40 minutes and ran at various power settings to conduct basis systems checks. The flight test "team completed a vibration check and monitored the shutdown logic to ensure it functioned as expected."

3:47 PM: ZA001s engines were restarted around 12 PM PT for higher power engine runs. Liz Matzelle's thought on engine noise: "It was about half as loud as a 747 would be over there, and one quarter as loud as a 777."

1:53 PM:
Boeing and Rolls-Royce confirm a successful start of ZA001's engines.

1:45 PM: The engines are now shutdown and the cowlings have been opened again for post-run checks. Guy Norris is reporting that hydraulic tests are scheduled for tomorrow (Friday). Also, here's another shot by Matt Cawby of the engine start from a different angle with Boeing staff lined up in the high-visibility yellow vests watching attentively.

1:31 PM:
At the time of the start, Liz Matzelle was standing at Everett's grassy knoll, about 2,200 feet from Stall 105 where ZA001 is parked. When asked about the sound of the engines starting up, Liz remarked that, "Lights are still on but I'm serious, there's no way to tell if the engines are running or not."

12:34 PM: 9:31 AM PT - ZA001 started its Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines for the first time. White smoke was seen coming from the engine as storage oil was burnt off as the engines were spooled up.

11:57 AM:
787 engines were cleared for first start last night, says Fancher. Also says that ZA002 will move to the field shortly, and the center tank will be closed out this week. Power on is approaching for ZA003 and the APU is onboard ZA004 and is near floor closure signaling structural completion and near-term power on.

11:48 AM: Fancher says intermediate gauntlet has moved to the left (sooner) and will last seven days. All systems hardware and software on the aircraft has been elevated to flight status.

11:33 AM: Reports from Everett indicate that the aircraft's engine cowls are now closed up and a firetruck has been moved in position near ZA001 as a standard precautionary measure for any first engine start. In addition, the LED dorsal strobe lights are now activated and blinking.

According to a report by KIRO 7 news in Seatte, a Boeing spokesman confirmed that pre-start tests have begun, but workers have not yet run the engine.

Here in Washington, 787 VP and General Manager Scott Fancher is about to present to a group of aerospace industry financial analysts on the status of the program.

Dreamliner One 9:31 AM PT
Photo Credit Liz Matzelle

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