Boeing turns on power in first 787 Dreamliner

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Boeing turns on power in first 787 Dreamliner | Reuters

Boeing Co has turned on electrical power in the first of its 787 Dreamliners, the plane maker said on Thursday, more than a year after it was due to start testing systems on its new carbon-composite plane.

The initial turning on of power, which Boeing said happened on Wednesday, signals the start of tests on the plane's coughpit and cabin systems, which should take about two weeks.

The tests are crucial for Boeing, and will likely determine whether the delayed plane will start test flights by the end of the year, as promised.

"We did put power on to the airplane for the first time yesterday (Wednesday)," said Yvonne Leach, Boeing's spokeswoman for the 787 program. "It gives us confidence that we'll have that milestone completed by the end of the month."