This Saturday Recap

This Saturday, then.

Today was an exciting day for me. For the past 3.5 years I have been working airframe stress analysis for Boeing's P-8A program. I'll spare you the nerdy details, and although it's been a lot of long hours, it's been both challenging and rewarding work. Today particularly highlighted the "rewarding" aspect.

Our first of five prototype aircraft (T-1, YP001) was scheduled for first flight today. A day some of us thought would never come, after all the work needed. It was a chilly but fairly clear morning at Renton's Clayton Scott Field, and I joined a large crowd of fellow Boeing employees and general enthusiasts snapping away with my [wife's] camera. Below are a few random shots taken of a typical Saturday morning of general aviation (yes, mostly touch-n-go's!) while waiting for T-1's taxi tests.


T-1 is seen in the backround behind this Cessna 172, with its left-most tail there off in the distance. It was parked in front of two other 737-NG aircraft currently in prep for airline delivery.


Below was just some of the many onlookers. They are at the boundary of the Boeing Renton factory on the south side of Lake Washington.


The chase jets arrive:




Northbound taxi, re-position:


Zooming in on some areas I worked extensively, here are sections 41/43:


...and 46/47/48:


Now with brakes locked, all set for takeoff roll:


Now full thrust, blasting Lake Washington!


And finally at 10:42am, YP001 was airborne!



...and away she goes to play with the chase jets for a few hours:


Currently still in primer, eventually T-1 will be painted just like the second prototype T-2, pictured here.

After a short visit to the office to wrap up some loose ends, I went home to pick up Allison and we decided to try out Hudson down in Sodo, one of the new bars opened by the Smarty Pants folks from Georgetown, our favorite bar scene in Seattle. Great place! We highly recommend, and will definitely be back.