By Andrew Aloia BBC Sport Last updated on 11 October 2021 11 October 2021 . From the section Football Watson was a trailblazer who helped transform how football was played There are two murals of black footballers facing one another across an alleyway in Glasgow. One helped shape football as we know it, the other is Pele. Andrew Watson captained Scotland to a 6-1 win over England on his debut in 1881. He was a pioneer, the world's first black international, but for more than a century the significance of his achievements went unrecognised. Research conducted over the past three decades has left us with some biographical details: a man descended of slaves and of those who enslaved them, born in Guyana, raised to become an English gentleman and famed as one of Scottish football's first icons. And yet today, 100 years on from his death aged 64, Watson remains something of an enigma, the picture built around him a fractured one. His grainy, faded, sepia image evokes many differen
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What Happens To Prototype Aircraft Once Testing Is Complete?
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When an aircraft program is launched, the manufacturer must manufacture several prototypes in order to test various systems and ensure safe and reliable operation for the following models that enter commercial service. These prototypes undergo rigorous testing and are put through all sorts of challenging conditions, including extreme heat and cold. “The plane has been dragged, dropped, soaked, forced to hover, shudder and flutter,” Boeing said of its 747-8 testing. But after being stressed in all sorts of ways, what happens to these prototype units once the planemaker is finished with them?
The Airbus A380 with MSN002, pictured here, is listed as Preserved. It was moved on August 29th, 2019, to the museum known as Aeroscopia Toulouse. Photo: Getty Images
Testing and experimentation continues
While an aircraft program might achieve all the necessary certification, and mass production might commence, the prototype units may just continue as test aircraft.
Data from Planespotters.net indicates that many early models of well-known commercial aircraft became what are known as ‘testbeds,’ – which Merriam-Webster more precisely defines as: “A vehicle (such as an airplane) used for testing new equipment (such as engines or weapons systems).”
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Thus, the teams at companies like Airbus and Boeing will use their prototypes to continue the aircraft development process, looking for ways to improve systems further. The testbed may even be instrumental in developing the next family of aircraft – the first 747 was actually a testbed for developing the Boeing 777 engine program.
The Museum of Flight in Seattle notes that the first 747 ever built served as a testbed for 747 systems improvements and new engine developments for other Boeing commercial jets, including the 777 engine program. The aircraft is now on display at the museum. Photo: HollywoodGuard via Wikimedia Commons
An aircraft testbed in its most extreme form, this is how the National Air and Space Museum describes the Boeing 707’s prototype (367-80) life:
“At one point, the Dash 80 carried three different engine types in its four nacelles. Serving as a testbed for the new 727, the Dash 80 was briefly equipped with a fifth engine mounted on the rear fuselage. Engineers also modified the wing in planform and contour to study the effects of different airfoil shapes.”
Off to the museum
Usually, once the testbed phase is finished, the manufacturer will try to find a new home for the aircraft. The new home is typically at a museum – perhaps one that might have a focus on aviation. Great examples include Seattle’s Museum of Flight (home of the first Boeing 747 and 737) or Toulouse’s Musée Aeroscopia (home of the first Airbus A320 and second-built A380).
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Where are the jets now?
So, where specifically are some of the initial prototypes of the world’s most common passenger jets from Airbus and Boeing? Let’s take a look:
A220-100/Bombardier CS100 (MSN 50001): The very first A220, built as the CSeries CS100, is preserved at Toulouse. In January 2020, its fuselage was cut into sections and used for training and trade shows. MSN 50002, however, is active as a testbed, as is the first CS300/A220-300.
A300B1 (MSN 001): While listed as ‘scrapped,’ the jet was preserved in a way. Some parts are in Munich while other parts are preserved at Toulouse and Paris’ Le Bourget.
A320-100 (MSN 001): The aircraft flew as a testbed to develop further A320 enhancements. It was also used to test winglets. In 2019 it was moved to Aeroscopia in Toulouse (see above Twitter post).
A340-300 (MSN 001): Used as a testbed and demonstrator, the first Airbus A340 was most recently used as its laminar-flow “BLADE” test demonstrator aircraft. It now sits stored in Tarbes, France.
A350-900 (MSN 001): The first A350 continues flying as a testbed.
A380 (MSN 001): This aircraft is marked as a testbed that is currently stored at Toulouse. It should be noted that the 2nd A380 (MSN 002) was used as a testbed for several years. Following this, it was preserved and moved to Aeroscopia in Toulouse.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any data on an MSN 001 for the A330, if it even existed. The Planespotters.net production list for the A330 starts at 012.
707: The prototype to the Boeing 707 was the 367-80 Jet Transport. It sits at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at Washington Dulles.
727-100 (Line No. 001): The very first 727-100 was delivered to United Airlines in 1963 but, after its service life, was moved to the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
737-100 (Line No. 001): After flying as a Boeing testbed from 1967 to 1973, the jet became a “flying laboratory” with NASA. In 2003 is was installed at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
747-100 (Line No. 001): Used as a testbed before preservation at the Museum of Flight in 2003.
757-200 (Line No. 001): Data indicates that this aircraft is still active as a testbed.
767-200 (Line No. 001): The first 767 never had the honor of going to a museum. Built in 1981, the aircraft was stored at Victorville in 2003 before being scrapped.
777-200 (Line No. 001): The first 777 was used as a demonstrator before serving with Cathay Pacific. In 2018 it found a final resting place at Tucson Pima Air & Space Museum.
787-8 (Line No. 001): The first Boeing 787-8 was preserved in Nagoya on June 22nd, 2015, at the Flight of Dreams Complex, which opened in 2018. The 2nd 787 built is on display at the Pima Air Museum in Arizona (photo below) while the 3rd is at the Museum of Flight.
The first Boeing 787-8 now sits at the Flight of Dreams Complex in Japan. Pictured here is the 2nd 787 produced, which is at the Pima Air Museum in Arizona. Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying
Long and varied lives
As you can see by the history of each model, prototypes serve well past the entry into service of the aircraft type. From testing new engines to other flight systems experiments, prototypes can potentially fly for multiple decades.
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It looks like the best place to spot some of the first prototypes is in Arizona, Seattle, or Toulouse. We’ll have to wait and see if new jets like the A350 and A220 get the privilege of museum storage as well. Of course, considering the first A340’s continued test activity, this may not be for another decade.
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Did you know about this ‘prototype afterlife’? Have you seen some of these ‘first aircraft’ for yourself? Let us know in the comments.
Deputy Editor - An experienced photographer and video producer, Chris is a journalistic natural. Degree educated with a wealth of traveling history, Chris’ insight into routes, networks, and alliances brings a depth of quality to his work that is hard to beat. His strong relationships with Middle Eastern and Canadian airlines make him an asset to the team. Currently based in Vilnius, Lithuania.
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