Wild week for the 787

Wild week for the 787:
from Randy's Journal by Randy Tinseth
This has been one whirlwind of a week for the 787. The Dream Tour airplane arrived in Washington, DC on Monday. We managed to capture some beautiful photos and video of ZA003 as it flew past the Washington Monument.

The 787 comes in for landing in DC.

After the airplane hosted thousands of guests in DC, the week was capped off last night at the Collier Trophy presentation dinner. The 787 received the prestigious award from the National Aeronautic Association for being the greatest aeronautic achievement in America last year. It’s an award we don’t take lightly and we’re truly honored to receive it.

Jim Albaugh, President & CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, honors the 787 team during the Collier Trophy dinner.

Mike Sinnett (left), 787 vice president and 787 Chief Project Engineer, and Capt. Mike Carriker, the original 787 Chief Pilot, are part of the team that designed and developed the 787.

The events in DC weren’t the only big things happening with the 787 program this week. The first engine run of the first South Carolina-built 787 was completed as we draw ever closer to that airplane’s first flight in the coming days.

The first 787 built in South Carolina during its rollout last month.

And before the Collier Trophy presentation, the 787 was honored with the 2012 Hermes Awards for Innovation Grand Prize. The Hermes Awards, given by the European Institute for Creative Strategies and Innovation, honor innovative ideas and products that help advance society. Finally, the Dreamliner was honored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics with the AIAA Foundation Award of Excellence.

Great things happen when you build great airplanes. Here’s hoping the rest of 2012 brings even greater things.

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