New Airplanes

[JackieAdkins]

i was thinking the other day and was not sure so ill ask you guys, when a brand new plane comes off the production line say like a 737 or a 777, what kinnda test do they do on them to ensure that it is in 100% working order, cause im sure there not just gonna take it from the line and give it to the airline or company that ordered it with out first double checking. so if you guys wanna fill me in on this info, please feel free to do so.

Jackie

[Felix/FFDS]

Every system is tested and checked - fuel, electrical, hydraulics, all the doors are opened, closed; and the airplane is flight tested through it's normal operating envelope.  Both factory and user/buyer (not always the same entity) sign off.

[beefhole]

I'm actually interested in this too... how many hours in the air do they get before being signed off?

[Rifleman]

I think it was just reported that the new Airbus 380 will undergo 2000 hours of proving before being delivered to any airline company.......?
.......anyone hear different from that ?

[Brett_Henderson]

2000 hours for that model.. before it's put into service ?

Or 2000 hours testing for every single plane before the customer gets it ?

Surely not the latter ?

(just did the math.. that was a silly question.. sorry)

(It would have to be flown 5 hours a day, every day, for more than a year, to put 2000 hours on it)

[C]

2000 hours for that model.. before it's put into service ?

Yep...

[Rocket_Bird]

Id say tests include: Flying the airframe to its utmost limits (and hopefully not tearing the wings off).  Extensive bird strike tests.  Emergency equipment tests (fires and stuff).  Pressurizations and leak testings etc.  Theres probably a thousand pages of tests in size 8 font.  

[exnihilo]

Well, for aircraft types that have already been certified, the tests aren't anything like 2000 hours.  There's a specific set of tests for new aircraft of types that have already been certified (like, say, a 737-800).  These amount to exercising and verifying the health of all the systems.  For a new type like the A380, to get certified, there are of course very extensive tests, both at the component level, and performed against the whole aircraft.  2000 hours in that case would not be surprising.

[Felix/FFDS]

[quote]Id say tests include: Flying the airframe to its utmost limits (and hopefully not tearing the wings off).

[C]

[quote].