Boeing has completed the static test necessary to validate the side-of-body reinforcements made to the 787 Dreamliner.

The 787 family includes new aircraft that will carry up to 250 passengers a distance of up to 8,200nm at Mach 0.85.

The modifications include installing new fittings at 34 stringer locations within the joint where the wing is attached to the fuselage.

During the test, the wing and trailing edges of the airframe were subjected to limit load — the highest loads expected to be seen in service on the 787s.

The load is about the same as 2.5 times the force of gravity for the wing, according to a Boeing statement.

The aircraft, which has thus far witnessed five delays, requires a successful test result for its first flight in December 2009.

Reinforcements have so far been completed on the first two flight-test airplanes and the full-scale static test airplane.