Boeing flies first 787-9 Dreamliner

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner took to the skies for the first time on September 17th, beginning a comprehensive flight-test program leading to certification and delivery in mid-2014. With its distinctive new Boeing livery, the newest member of the efficient 787 family completed a 5-hour, 16-minute flight. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, the first 787-9 will be joined in flight test by two additional airplanes, one of which will feature General Electric GEnx engines. Those airplanes are in the final stages of assembly in Boeing’s Everett factory. Over the coming months, the fleet will be subjected to a variety of tests and conditions to demonstrate the safety and reliability of the airplane’s design.