ID this plane

[jimson]

A local radio personality posted this picture of a plane flying over Tucson this afternoon wondering what it is. He doesn't seem to be asking about the small fighter that looks like a T-38/F5 to me.

Anyone know what plane or planes these are?

[Tac]

it does look like a T-38.

[jimson]

Any ideas on the the larger one?

[NormH3]

Looks like a 787 to me.

[NormH3]

there ya go

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Boeing+restarts+Dreamliner+tests/4125930/story.html

[jimson]

That looks like it. And the article places it in the area. Thanks guys.

[Cougar68]

Why the four contrails?  Did they put smoke generators  on the wing for some reason?

[NormH3]

Why the four contrails?  Did they put smoke generators  on the wing for some reason?

Its being flight tested...could be part of the data they are collecting. The chase plane is probably taking video.

[Babalonian]

Awww, beat me to it, 787 Dreamliner.  Looks like it's got the big Boeing logo on the side there.  I wonder who's testing it and for what though, T-38 is used in everything from the private sector to NASA.

[68Hawk]

Fuel dump test?  The orange on the wings marks it as a test plane, even if it didn't already have a chase aircraft.

[flight17]

the orange on the wings and horizontal tail is a water based paint that they use to see how other liquids flow over the surfaces. As hawk guessed, they are indeed doing a fuel dump test. The fleet just restarted FAA certification efforts yesterday for the first time since ZA002's power unit fire and the first test that was to be done yesterday was fuel dumping tests.

The aircraft in the pic is ZA004 which is based out of Yuma, Arizona.

Also the 7th 787 took to the skies for the first time ZA102 which is the 9th a/c built.

[Babalonian]

Fuel dump test?  The orange on the wings marks it as a test plane, even if it didn't already have a chase aircraft.

Fantastic call!

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flightblogger/2009/04/photo-787-raked-blended-wingle.html

Looked it up, the "smoke" is coming out of where the fuel dump nozzles are located on the wing.  787 Dreamliner fuel dump testing, 99.9% sure of it now.

[Babalonian]

the orange on the wings and horizontal tail is a water based paint that they use to see how other liquids flow over the surfaces. As hawk guessed, they are indeed doing a fuel dump test. The fleet just restarted FAA certification efforts yesterday for the first time since ZA002's power unit fire and the first test that was to be done yesterday was fuel dumping tests.

The aircraft in the pic is ZA004 which is based out of Yuma, Arizona.

Also the 7th 787 took to the skies for the first time ZA102 which is the 9th a/c built.

Very cool, I thought they resumed flight testing in the end of December though, going off the press releases...  what's your inside and up-to-date "source"? 

[Dadsguns]

190 and a goon .................. 

[flight17]

Very cool, I thought they resumed flight testing in the end of December though, going off the press releases...  what's your inside and up-to-date "source"? 

same as yours

but i follow some other sites as well

the 787 did resume flights in December, however those were all test flights for Boeing's purposes (not required for the certification of the a/c). They were probably tests to help with the developement of the 787-9 and to further their knowledge and understanding in how their design is working for both the 787 and any future products.