Boeing’s Dreamliner 787-10 successfully completed its maiden flight at the company’s North Charleston assembly plant in South Carolina, USA on Friday, 31st March. The long haul jet's first flight kicks off a test programme to certify it for commercial flying in 2018.
The plane, listed at a price of nearly $313 million, rounds off the Boeing 787 growing family of carbon-fiber composite Dreamliners. The aircraft is the second and last ‘stretch’ of the original 787-8, at 18 ft (5.5m) longer than the 787-9.
Seating up to 330 passengers, the widebody aircraft has 40 more seats than the 787-9 and 88 more than the 787-8. Boeing says the dash Ten will also have "25 percent better fuel per seat and emissions than the airplanes it will replace".
The aircraft performed tests on flight controls, systems and handling qualities, to the delight of onlookers on the ground.
"From takeoff to landing, the airplane handled beautifully and just as expected," said Captain Tim Berg, chief 787 test pilot, after the 5 hour flight. Singapore Airlines will be the first company to operate the American long-haul jet in 2018.
