CHICAGO - BOEING Co flew for the first time its twice-delayed 747-8 Freighter, a significant milestone in the history of the legendary 747 family and a step that could bolster the credibility of the world's second-largest plane maker.
The takeoff on Monday started what was scheduled to be a three- to four-hour test flight near Boeing's factories around Seattle, Washington.
Boeing twice delayed the first flight of the 747-8 last year, most recently moving a planned fourth-quarter flight to early 2010 and first delivery to the fourth quarter of 2010.
The 747-8 Freighter, about 18 feet (5.49 metres) longer than the 747-400, had been launched in Nov 2005 and was originally scheduled to start delivering in the fourth-quarter of 2009.
The company took a US$1 billion (S$1.42 billion) charge related to the 747-8 in the third quarter of 2009 because of high production costs and tough market conditions.
Boeing, which has 108 orders for 747-8s - 76 for its freighter model and 32 for the passenger model - on its books at list prices between US$293 million and US$308 million, gets paid by customers at delivery. -- REUTERS
