Boeing using 2 production 787s for testing in addition to 6 in its flight test fleet

Boeing using 2 production planes for 787 testing

SEATTLE — Boeing Co. will do some limited testing on two more 787 airliners besides the six planes in its flight test fleet.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes spokeswoman Mary Hanson says the two planes are needed to fulfill requirements to test production versions of the new jet, along with the six configured for the flight test program. One plane will be used for ground tests while the other will fly to check functions, reliability, and operations on routes far from airports.

Hanson says the testing won’t affect deliveries of 787s. Chicago-based Boeing said last week that it’s further postponing the initial 787 delivery to the middle of the first quarter of 2011 because of problems in getting engines. The delivery date is now more than two years behind the original schedule.