BOEING'S 747-8F: COUNTING DOWN TO FIRST FLIGHT

摘要

While Boeing's new 747-8 Freighter has not yet flown, the day of first flight is now within sight following the first unit's emergence from the paint hangar in a new Boeing livery with an oversize "8" on the tail (see bottom photo, below). Earlier this month, the aircraft successfully completed the first round of gauntlet tests. This two-day factory gauntlet involved a series of tests in which various of the aircraft's systems were tested in simulated flight conditions. First flight is expected in early 2010 (following two more series of tests), and first delivery to launch customer Cargolux is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2010.