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Boeing, elected and community leaders joined together to celebrate the permanent display of one of the original 787-8 Dreamliner flight test airplanes at the Pima Air & Space Museum.
“Boeing has a strong presence in Arizona and is proud to share this important achievement in aviation history with the community, our employees and visitors,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner. “The Pima Air & Space Museum is a world-class facility and has been a great partner throughout the years. It’s the perfect location to showcase this pioneering airplane.”
This particular 787, ZA002, is the second Boeing 787-8 to be produced. The airplane flew for the first time on Dec. 22, 2009, joining what would become a six-airplane flight test and certification program for the 787-8. The primary focus of ZA002 was testing systems performance.
“Aerospace is a cornerstone of Arizona’s economy, creating jobs and business opportunities across the state,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “Boeing’s donation of this state-of-the-art 787 Dreamliner is symbolic of Arizona’s rich history and bright future in aerospace, and a strong testament to our commitment to innovation and industry.”
The celebration at the Pima Air & Space Museum included the participation of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, Boeing VP of 787 Engineering Ron Hinderberger and museum Board Chairman Count Ferdinand von Galen.
Coinciding with the 787 induction, the Pima Air & Space Museum also unveiled its new ‘Women in Flight’ exhibit, commemorating the achievements of female aviators over the past century.
“This is an extremely exciting and monumental time for the museum, the Tucson community and Arizona in general,” said Scott Marchand, executive director, Pima Air & Space Museum. “We are honoured to be selected by Boeing to be the custodian of such a significant historic next generation aircraft and to be able to display it to the public from the U.S. and around the world.”
ZA002 is the second of three flight test 787-8s Boeing plans to share with communities and future generations of employees and airplane enthusiasts.
