We are getting closer and closer to the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental’s first flight. Boeing is preparing for the date and on January 8th, completed their first practice flight of the actual airplane. No, you didn’t miss the first flight of the airplane, the test was totally done on the ground, in the Boeing factory.
This was the first time all all the onboard systems were tested at the same time during the factory gauntlet testing and everything went well.
From what I am seeing, we should be seeing the rollout of the plane maybe in the next few weeks and hopefully first flight shortly after that.
The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental is one beautiful airplane. Boeing recently tweeted a video of the first 747-8I RC001 being moved to her final assembly position and I just had to share. The 747-8I is the biggest commercial airliner that Boeing has ever made and it might turn out to be my favorite.
Boeing workers assemble the top portion of the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental. Photo by Boeing.
Boeing announced yesterday that they have started fuselage assembly of the first 747-8 Intercontinental at their factory in Everett, WA. Even though this is not the first Boeing 747-8 built, it is the first Intercontinental that will carry passengers.
The panels are part of section 41, which houses the flight deck and top portion of the top passenger compartment. The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental already has 33 orders and is set to be delivered in late 2011.
