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Boeing celebrated the first flight of its 787-10, the newest and biggest variant yet of its “Dreamliner” widebody aircraft.
Boeing completed the milestone flight on Friday at around 2:35 p.m. ET. The aircraft had been in the air for a little more than five hours after taking off around 9:30 a.m. ET.
The event came at Boeing’s assembly line in North Charleston, S.C., where a large crowd of employees and onlookers gathered to watch the “dash 10” version of the Dreamliner take to the skies for the first time.
The “787-10” is the third variant of Boeing’s new-age jet, following the smaller 787-8 – the original – and 787-9 models.
While Boeing’s other Dreamliner variants are built both in South Carolina and at its larger assembly line in Everett, Wash., the 787-10 will be produced exclusively at the North Charleston facility. Boeing broke ground on its line there in 2009 and commenced operations in 2011.
Boeing made its ceremonial roll out of its 787-10 on Feb. 17 in South Carolina. Now that the 787-10 has completed its first flight, it will undergo the further flight testing needed to certify the 787-10 for commercial flying. |