Boeing 747-8 Freighter Photo: Boeing

EVERETT, Wash., March 17, 2010 – The third Boeing [NYSE: BA] 747-8 Freighter, RC 521, successfully completed its first flight today.
It is the final test airplane scheduled to participate in the flight-test program for the 747-8 Freighter.

Piloted by Captains Paul Stemer and Keith Otsuka, with Ralph Chaffin serving as systems operator, RC 521 took off from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., completed a two-and-a-half-hour flight and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle.

Boeing 747-8 Freighter Photo: Boeing

The airplane reached an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,144 m) and an airspeed of 245 knots, or about 282 miles (454 km) per hour.

It took off at 3:27 p.m. PDT and landed at 5:58 p.m.

Boeing 747-8 Freighter Photo: Boeing

RC 521 has several tests scheduled in the test program, including fuel-mileage testing.

The 747-8 Freighter flight-test program calls for all three airplanes to perform approximately 3,700 hours of testing both on the ground and in the air.

Boeing 747-8 Freighter Photo: Boeing

The first 747-8 Freighter delivery is planned for the fourth quarter of this year.

Contact:

Tim Bader
747 Communications
+1 425-717-0672
tim.s.bader@boeing.com

Jennifer Hawton
Boeing Test & Evaluation
+1 425-444-1600
jennifer.d.hawton@boeing.com

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Boeing 747-8 Flight Test Videos

http://www.boeing.com/newairplane/747/#/3  



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