Biggest Boeing's maiden flight

Boeing Co's biggest aeroplane - 747-8 freighter - has successfully completed its maiden flight, despite being a year later than planned.

The giant vehicle finished an approximately three-and-a-half-hour round trip from Everett's Paine Field this week.

The company said the take-off was watched by around 5,000 employees, suppliers, customers and other aeroplane admirers.

The new Boeing aeroplane is 250ft long - more than twice the length of the first flight by the Wright Brothers - and is about 18ft longer than the current 747-400 jumbo jet.

The freighter underwent taxi tests on Saturday and performed well, Boeing said.

Chief pilot Mark Feuerstein of the 747 said: "The aeroplane performed as expected and handled just like a 747-400."

Captain Tom Imrich also joined Mr Feuerstein in the flight.

Boeing's original 747 model is set to celebrate the 41st anniversary of its first flight on Tuesday.

The new vehicle's first flight around western Washington state kicked off a testing programme involving over 1,600 flight hours.

Copyright © Press Association 2010

Source: http://blogs.yourdiscovery.com/discovery-news/2010/02/biggest-boeings-maiden-flight.html