Boeing's first 747-8 Freighter (RC501) rolled out of the factory on 12 November for a short trip across the Boeing Freeway to the paint hangar. The airframer's vice-president of marketing, Randy Tinseth, revealed at the Dubai air show that RC501 was "factory complete", with the second and third 747-8F flight-test aircraft 93% and 86% completed, respectively.
Tinseth also said Boeing had passed 87% of engineering released on the 747-8I passenger variant and had completed the critical design review phase, both milestones being achieved "ahead of plan".
Boeing says RC501 is expected to make its first flight early next year, with first delivery to launch customer Cargolux in the fourth quarter of 2010.
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Source: Flight International
