The 787 Dreamliner successfully completed its maiden test flight in December and now the interior design of Boeing's next-gen aircraft has been revealed. The officially released photo shows the partially decked-out interior featured on the third of six flight test airplanes. While certainly sleek, at first glance there's nothing overly radical about the layout (no lying down in economy class just yet), though Boeing says it will give passengers greater comfort with its "dynamic lighting, larger lavatories, more spacious luggage bins and electronic window shades whose transparency they can change during flight."
Interior revealed
“This airplane is specifically configured to test the passenger experience elements of the airplane,” said Tom Galantowicz, director of 787 Interiors, Commercial Airplanes. “Our engineers and flight-test team use a disciplined process to certify the various elements of the interior and conduct airplane-level verifications.”Instrumentation racks, flight-test equipment and workstations for engineers are included in the partial interior. Lighting, lavatories, stowage bins, dimmable windows and galleys will be tested as part of the certification process.
First test flight
The interior test aircraft is scheduled for flight later this month, but flight testing of the 787 is already underway with a three hour flight from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, taking place late last year.
787 Chief Pilot Mike Carriker and Capt. Randy Neville took the aircraft to an altitude of 13,200 feet (4,023 meters) and an air speed of 180 knots, or about 207 miles (333 kilometers) per hour.
One of six test airplanes, the first 787 is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. Two of the remaining five will be powered by General Electric GEnx engines.
According to Boeing, the 787 will use 20 percent less fuel than today's airplanes of comparable size and provide airlines with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity.
Flight testing will continue throughout the year with delivery to the first customer - ANA (All Nippon Airways) - slated for the fourth quarter of this year.
