Aircraft
Fifth Boeing 747-8 Freighter Enters Flight-test Program
The fifth Boeing 747-8 Freighter took to the air for the first time today from Paine Field in Everett, Wash.

The fifth Boeing 747-8 Freighter took to the air for the first time today from Paine Field in Everett, Wash. The airplane, dubbed RC523, flew for three-and-a-half hours, during which time it conducted the standard two-and-a-half-hour “B1” flight profile that Boeing conducts on all production airplanes before delivery, as well as an hour of engineering testing.

“The airplane performed well,” said Andy Hammer, 747-8 test program manager. “It was a fine start to the test plan for this airplane.”