Of the 1,800-plus hours Boeing 787 test pilots have flown so far, few are as dramatic as the recent trip to Iceland for crosswind testing. The 787 team flew to Keflavik airport after weather forecasts indicated conditions most pilots try to avoid — wind across the runway.

Boeing pilots made several takeoffs and landings on Runway 02 with winds of 30 knots, gusting to 39 from a heading of 120 degrees. This gave the 787 Dreamliner flight test team what