Boeing

The new 767-400ER (extended range) rose into the sky above Paine Field in Everett, Wash., today for the first time, and is heading west down the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Commanding the airplane are Capt. Buzz Nelson, 767 Program chief pilot, and first officer Capt. John Cashman, Flight Crew Operations director.

Before takeoff, a Boeing ground crew wheeled the air stairs away from the airplane and signaled the pilots, who nosed the airplane out of its stall. The airplane, identified as VQ001, taxied then lifted off the runway at 12:10 p.m.

A crowd of Boeing employees stood along the runway and cheered.

"This is as good as it gets," said Pat Shanahan, 767-400ER program manager, who was on hand to witness the event in Everett. "So many employees, as well as our supplier- and airline-team members, have worked hard to deliver on a commitment we made more than two years ago to develop, build and certify the airplane. It's an incredible feeling when you see it fly."

During the flight, which is expected to last about five hours, Nelson and Cashman will conduct a series of tests on the airplane systems and structures. Flight-test equipment on board is recording and transmitting data to flight-test employees stationed in a control room at Boeing Field in Seattle. These data, as well as verbal information provided by the pilots during flight, will be analyzed later by the team.

"All of our ability to integrate and work together comes home when we accomplish something as significant as a first flight," Shanahan said. "The flight-test program is key to delivering a reliable airplane that performs as expected from day one."

This debut flight signals the official beginning of a six-and-a-half-month flight-test program for the 767-400ER, during which this airplane, and two other 767-400ERs now in the final stages of completion, will accumulate approximately 800 flight hours and 1,100 ground-test hours. At the conclusion of flight test, the 767-400ER will achieve certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and concurrence by the European Joint Aviation Authorities.