Arrival of the 54th Boeing 777 for Air France: D-2

6:30am D-2 Boeing’s delivery center at Everett. Some ten people are preparing for what should be the last test flight for Air France’s 54th Boeing 777 before delivery on Friday.

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Pilots, engineers and technicians go through the last technical data and set the objectives for the test flight. The plane takes off facing south at 7:30am with a mixed Boeing/Air France crew at the controls. After only 40 minutes flying at an altitude of 12,000 metres, the 777 comes back to land. «The tests went fine – the plane is ready for delivery. Next stop Paris!» exclaims George Adams, test pilot for Boeing.

A team of Air France mechanics then go through the plane with a toothcomb for the last time to point out to their Boeing counterparts any nuts and bolts to tighten – any final détails to settle – the last clean-iup of the cabin, galleys and toilets. «Mission accomplished. Air France will be taking delivery of this aircraft in a few hours. All that’s left are the final touches» said one of Boeing’s mechanics while adjusting the remote control for the on-board vidéo system.

All in all, it took less than 30 months to assemble this Boeing 777-300ER from the moment the parts were delivered to Boeing until actual delivery to Air France. Thirty months to build and assemble the 777th Boeing 777, which the aircraft manufacturer had specially reserved for Air France.

Registered as F-GZND and with 8 hours on its log book, the plane is ready to fly to Paris to join Air France’s long-haul fleet.

Tomorrow, second episode: "Air France takes possession of the aircraft"