Boeing 747-8 all set for maiden flight on Feb. 8

Being two years behind schedule, the Dreamliner will now be delivered by this year end.

The first take off will be from Paine Field, Washington, after checking the weather conditions.

“The window for the maiden flight of the test jet, a freighter, will open at 10 a.m. local time and will depend on weather conditions,” said Jim Proulx, a company spokesman.

Boeing 747-8 Boeing’s longest commercial aircraft at 253 feet
At 253 feet, 747-8 is the longest commercial aircraft by Chicago-based Boeing. The 40-year-old company will add two additional 747-8 cargo planes after the test-flight program on Monday.

Boeing will begin its commercial flights once it receives final confirmation from the Federal Aviation Administration. It will also shift its test planes to Palmdale, Calif., for the final stages of certification.

The initial 747-8 model will carry 210 to 250 passengers on New York to Hong Kong route.

Boeing 747-8—the people pleaser
The Boeing 747-8 has careful features planned to please passengers.

Tom Galantowicz, company's director of 787 interiors, said the lavatories in 747-8 are spacious and there are also convenient latches on the overhead baggage bins.

“Airlines especially want to attract higher-paying business-class passengers for those flights. Business passengers tend to chase the aircraft equipment they like and they will actively seek out those aircraft types,” said Kent Craver, Boeing's regional director for passenger satisfaction and revenue.

Blake Emery, Boeing’s director of differentiation strategy, said that the company undertook an exceptional global study of airline passengers to see what they liked.

He said people making their first flight were fascinated by an aircraft and wanted “no one in the seat next to them, and they slept all the way.”

The 787, with its high ceilings, presents “an architectural welcome” for passengers who have endured a cramped jet way, said Emery.

747-8 program facing losses
Despite the launch of the giant plane, the 747-8 program has been reported to be facing heavy losses. The aircraft has been called unsuccessful and burdensome. The balance sheet of Boeing has shown losses since early 2009.

Also, the delay in the program has caused considerable loss in customers. Boeing 747-8 currently comes at a price of $301 million apiece.