Photos: Boeing Dreamliner moves closer to first flight

Boeing's initial 787 Dreamliner sits at the fuel dock at the company's giant Everett, Wash., manufacturing facility.

Recently, Boeing completed a series of tests on the 787 that it said included "build verification tests, structures and systems integration tests, landing gear swings and factory gauntlet, which is the full simulation of the first flight using the actual airplane." As part of this, Boeing chief pilot Mike Carriker conducted a simulation that tested each flight control, hardware, and software system. It also involved performing both automatic and manual landings, as well as "an extensive suite of subsequent ground tests."