Boeing announced recently that it has finished the high-pressure test knows as “high blow” on the airframe of its 787 Dreamliner at its Everett factory on Saturday September 27th 2008. The test takes two hours and is one of the three tests required before its first flight (woo-hoo!).
From Boeing Website -
During the test, the airframe reached an internal pressure of 150
percent of the maximum levels expected to be seen in service – 14.9
lbs. per square inch (1.05 kilograms per centimeter) gauge (psig). It
took nearly two hours to complete the test, as pressure was slowly
increased to ensure the integrity of the airplane.“We
had every confidence going into this test because of the extensive work
we’ve done on larger and larger pieces of composite – from small
coupons to fuselage sections,” said Pat Shanahan, vice president and
general manager of the 787 program. “Still, it’s very rewarding to see
a whole airplane being tested and having the results we expected.“I am so proud of the team that has worked on this program and the progress we are making.”
