Everett (US):
Boeing Company's giant 747-8 freighter, the biggest plane the company has ever built, took off on its first flight, a year later than originally planned.
The huge plane took off from Everett's Paine Field after a weather delay on Monday. It was to land later in the day at Seattle's Boeing Field.
Hundreds of employees and other airplane fans gathered to watch the plane take to the air. The flight came just one day short of the 41st anniversary of the first flight of the original 747 model.
At 250 feet long, the plane is about 18 feet longer than the existing 747-400 jumbo jet. The company conducted taxi tests on the freighter Saturday, with the aircraft performing well, Boeing said.
Boeing also is developing a passenger version of the plane. It lists 76 orders for the freighter and 32 for the 747-8 passenger jet, with the vast majority from international customers.
The company says the jets will be much quieter, more fuel efficient and have lower emissions than current 747-400 models
Boeing launched the freighter program on November 14, 2005, with firm orders for 10 planes from Cargolux of Luxembourg and eight from Nippon Cargo Airlines of Japan. The jet has a list price of more than USD 301 million, though airlines commonly negotiate discounts.
After completing the test program, the first freighter will be refitted and delivered to Cargolux.