boeing 787-8 dreamlinerAmerican Airlines American Airlines recently took delivery of their first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner from the Boeing factory up in Everett, Washington, where the aircraft was manufactured.  It is currently based at American's home in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and they have been flying it regularly to get pilots and crews ready for its upcoming entry into commercial service.

According to American Airlines, American is proud to bring their customers the latest in aviation innovation with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which features a state-of-the-art international onboard travel experience.  American's first Boeing 787 will begin revenue service domestically between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Chicago (ORD) on May 7, 2015.  The Boeing 787 will then shift to their international network to serve their daily nonstop flight between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Beijing (PEK) beginning on June 2 and on their nonstop flight between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Buenos Aires (EZE) on June 4.

American Airlines is scheduled to have a total of five 787s before they commence with their international routes on June 2.  To get ready for all of these new routes and aircraft, American Airlines has been flying their new 787-8 Dreamliner daily all over the United States.  It seems that their favorite training flight destinations are Dallas/Fort Worth (home), St. Louis, El Paso, and Phoenix.  The Phoenix portion of their flight testing works well for me, as I don't live too far from the airport and have been able to see her a few times.  Their flight testing has been strange at times.  It has been strange to see such a large aircraft depart Phoenix Sky Harbor for Dallas/Fort Worth, only to fly almost all the way to St. Louis before diverting back to Sky Harbor for a touch-and-go.  Although strange, it does prove the range of the Dreamliner, and it does show that the pilots are getting plenty of practice flying her.

At the time this report was published, American Airlines has taken delivery of a second Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.  American's first Dreamliner is N800AN and their second is N801AC, both aircraft are pictured here.  Both aircraft are now flying training flights, and lately have been seen at Sky Harbor about an hour apart.  Their latest route has been Dallas/Fort Worth, St. Louis, Phoenix, and back home to Dallas/Fort Worth.  They have been coming to Phoenix twice per day, once in the morning and once again in the evening.  As of this morning, I heard that these training flights will most likely be ending this week, and American will be sending their Dreamliners on international training flights to London Heathrow and Tokyo Narita.

boeing 787-8 dreamlinerAmerican Airlines

Information provided by American Airlines.