Boeing's 747-8 Freighter Takes to the Skies

The Boeing Company made history on February 8th, 2010, when its new 747-8 Freighter took to the skies for the first time. The aircraft, with a weight of 421,200lb and measuring 18.3 feet longer than its predecessor, lifted off from Paine Field runway in Everett, Washington, at 12:39 p.m. local time.

Chief Pilot Mark Feuerstein and Captain Tom Imrich commanded the flight deck as the Freighter reached a cruising altitude of 17,000 feet and a speed of up to 230 knots during its test program. The pilots successfully completed the flight plan, with every test condition going well, according to Chief Pilot Feuerstein.

The 747-8 Freighter represents a significant evolution from the 747-400, with entirely new wing design and four General Electric GEnx-2B engines producing lower emissions and better fuel economy. The aircraft offers customers 16 percent more cargo volume and achieves 16 percent lower ton-mile costs than its predecessor.

Boeing currently has 76 orders for the 747-8 Freighter and 32 orders for the 747-8 Intercontinental passenger version.