Boeing

The second of two flight test Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes made its first flight April 6 from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. At the controls were Capt. Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, 777 senior test pilot, and Joseph MacDonald, 747 chief pilot and former 777 senior engineering pilot. The airplane took off at 11:26 a.m. and landed two hours and 24 minutes later at Boeing Field in Seattle. This airplane, which is dubbed WD-502, will be used for engine, systems, community noise, and stability and control testing. The first 777-300ER completed its first flight on Feb. 24, and since that time has completed more than 100 hours of flying on 40 flights. During 2003 Boeing plans to complete 1,600 hours of flight and 1,000 hours of ground testing on the two airplanes. The first 777-300ER is scheduled to deliver in April 2004.