Boeing spews 125 tons of emissions in either a "test" - or a publicity stunt

[wtmusic]

"The Boeing 787 uses advanced materials and high-tech engines to fly more quietly, with lower emissions of nitrogen oxides and less fuel burn than previous models, all significant environmental benefits. But sometimes, the engineers who designed it try to have a bit of fun.

Boeing delivered its first 787 last September but is continuing flight tests of the plane so that it can be certified to fly long distances over water. As part of that test, it decided to paint the sky last week — specifically, the northern tier of the continental United States, from Seattle to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They drew a flight plan that spelled out “787? and then the Boeing logo.

Skywriting, a waning art, is usually done with a single-engine stunt plane; this was a 186-foot-long jet designed to carry more than 200 people."

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/skywriting-with-an-airliner/

[Dead_Parrot]

1. well...

If they have to do the test anyway, I don't see any harm in it. There's no suggesting they were actually dumping diesel into the engines to make it visible.

[wtmusic]

2. They've been flying commercial Tokyo/Frankfurt nonstops for over a month now nt

[caraher]

3. Tokyo-Frankfurt doesn't involve flying long distances over water

See the Great Circle route

Yes, they did have to do this test, and just decided to be creative about it (which of course resulted in publicity...)

[wtmusic]

4. Thanks nt