For people and travelers of Boeing, end of 2011 would be a time of great achievement. The first customer delivery of the latest launched 747-8 Intercontinental flight is expected to be there in late 2011. On Sunday, for the first time, this passenger plane which is said to be the fastest and most fuel- and cost-efficient passenger aircraft in the history of Boeing took off on its first-ever test flight.

The plane took off from the Paine Field in Everett, Wash. and after a journey of four and a half hours was seen touching the Boeing Fields. To evaluate the real efficiency and working of this plane, the pilots while putting it through a series of test, took it as high as 20,000 feet, and up to 250 knots. This maiden flight of Boeing's latest and largest passenger plane was so well that chief 747-8 test pilot Capt. Mark Feuerstein constricted in a few maneuvers.

Feuerstein told during a press conference that “In one such move, it flies basically sideways, but in a straight line. Fortunately, it didn't surprise us at all. It was one of the cleanest first flights of a new airplane I've seen. It just went perfectly”.

The new 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft is painted in a vivid orange-and-white livery color with gray and gold striping. Its unique appearance just crisscrossed the state during those flight test maneuvers.