Originally published September 27, 2009 at 9:24 AM | Page modified September 28, 2009 at 11:03 AM

Boeing test flight to include flares and chase plane

Starting Monday and continuing through Oct. 15, Boeing will conduct seven flight tests of a military airplane over Hood Canal.

By Seattle Times staff

Starting today and continuing through Oct. 15, Boeing will conduct seven flight tests of a military airplane over Hood Canal. The plane will release flares in flight and will be closely followed by a chase plane.

The flights are to test a self-protection system aboard a Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, a 737 with a large rectangular antenna mounted on the upper fuselage and Royal Australian Air Force markings. The chase plane is a T-33 jet that will video-tape the tests for later analysis.

The testing will occur in the morning and afternoon. The flares burn out within five seconds but anyone observing the plane may see white light and some smoke, a normal part of the activity.

—Dominic Gates, Seattle Times aerospace reporter

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