A notable landmark was Monday achieved in the history of the renowned Boeing 747 – with the 747-8 Freighter finally completing a successful snag-free test flight at Paine Field in Everett, north of Seattle, Washington.

The much-awaited first flight of the 747-8, which is the newest and biggest commercial jet from Boeing, was delayed two times last year.

The giant plane’s first official take-off finally came exactly one day before the 41st anniversary of 747’s maiden flight in 1969, and was ardently cheered by countless Boeing production workers.

With the test flight of the gigantic 250-foot-long 747-8 freighter jet being a success, Boeing is apparently looking towards the plane’s first delivery in the fourth quarter this year. There are currently 108 orders for the Boeing 747-8s -
32 for the passenger model and 76 for the freighter model - at list prices varying from $293 million to $308 million.

The plane, escorted by two chase aircraft during the test flight, is much bigger than its earlier counterparts – it is 18 feet longer in the fuselage, and has a 13 feet wider wingspan.

However, with a maximum takeoff weight of 975,000 pounds, the 747-8 is comparatively smaller overall than the European double-decker Airbus A380 super jumbo, which boasts a takeoff weight of 1.2 million pounds; though the elongation of the 747-8 fuselage is about 10 feet longer than that of the A380.