Boeing 747-8F

Heir to the throne of the skies

Long known as the Queen of the Skies, the latest in the line of aviation royalty took to the skies in Washington State only one day short of the 41st anniversary of the first 747-100 test flight.

The first 747-8 Freighter, MSN RC501 and registered N747EX flight made its first flight on February 8 from Paine Field. Piloted by 747 chief pilot Mark Feuerstein and Captain Tom Inrich, the aircraft took off at 12:39pm local time and underwent a three hour, 39 minute test flight over Puget Sound, where it underwent tests for basic handling qualities and engine performance. The aircraft reached a cruising altitude of 17,000ft and a speed of up to 230kt.