Getting it right through test flight

Flight testing remains an important component in validation and certification of aircraft.

Flight testing is all about making the imperfect perfect. After all, where would the fun be if a clean-sheet-of-paper airframe flew exactly as predicted by simulations, wind tunnels, and other tests?

“Discovery is part of flight testing,” said Jerry Kiltz, flight-test engineer for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, which is preparing to embark on one of the most important flight test programs ever-the launch of the 787 Dreamliner. First flight is not scheduled until 2007, but preparations for that milestone got off the ground months ago.