The biggest passenger jet ever built by Boeing took to the skies for the first time Sunday. The maiden 747-8 Intercontinental flight left Boeing’s Everett assembly line facility at 9:58 a.m. PT, landing about four hours later at Seattle’s Boeing Field.The 747-8i, which was officially unveiled to the public last month at a rock-concert-like “premiere,” now will begin a series of test flights. Boeing hopes to receive certification for the jet in time to deliver the first one by year’s end, according to FlightGlobal.com.
On that note, The Seattle Times writes “the plane that took off today will be the first passenger model delivered. Industry buzz suggests it will go to the government of Kuwait, one of two VIP versions of the jet the Kuwaitis have ordered. VIP customers typically take their airplanes to outside designers to be fitted with lavish customized interiors, at an added cost that can easily top $20 million.”
As for Sunday’s inaugural flight, The Associated Press sets the scene, saying the 747-8i took off to “rousing cheers from Boeing workers. The two pilots flew across Washington state and landed around 2:25 p.m. (PT) at Boeing Field (near Seattle). Chief test pilot Capt. Mark Feuerstein says the flight was clean and that the airplane is ‘ready to go fly right now.’ “
Lufthansa is scheduled to be the first passenger airline to take delivery of the Intercontinental. The German carrier has said it expects to put its first Intercontinental into commercial passenger service sometime next year.Boeing says the Intercontinental will carry up to 467 passengers and have a range of about 7,000 miles.
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