You’ve come a long way, beluga

Boeing’s sleek, blue and white Dreamlifter landed at Everett’s Paine Field last night.

The modified 747-400 cargo jet has come a long way — from a mere concept to reality. The huge freighters often get overshadowed by their precious cargo: 787 Dreamliner assemblies. But the Dreamlifters are a mammoth feat.

These pictures show a little of the plane’s progress over the past few years — from a model to a bloated jet under construction, from an unpainted “beluga” whale to a distinguished looking courier of 787 parts.