Boeing’s first 787 customer plane takes flight — photo

Published 5:03 pm Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The Boeing Co.’s first Dreamliner that will be delivered to a customer made its maiden flight today.

The 787 took off a little before 4 p.m. from Everett’s Paine Field with plans to fly to Moses Lake, Wash.

Boeing is using six test planes that will do the majority of the flight testing for Federal Aviation Administration certification.

Boeing announced yesterday that it plans to deliver the first 787 in the third quarter of 2011 to Japan’s All Nippon Airways.

The 787 is more than three years behind schedule due to supplier and production troubles. Most recently, in November, Boeing grounded its 787 test planes after an electrical fire broke out on the second 787. Certification flight tests for the FAA resumed on Monday.