AVIATION/ DREAMLINER MAIDEN FLIGHT COMPLETED

Boeing completed the maiden flight of its 787 Dreamliner yesterday afternoon, the world's 1st majority composite jetliner. Company officials called the flight a success. The aircraft touched down at 1:35pm, local time, at Boeing Field just south of Seattle and home to the company's flight test operations centre that will oversee the 9 to 12 month certification process. The 787 achieved speeds ranging from a low of 41kts to 220kts, and reached a peak altitude of 13200ft. The completion of the first flight of the 787-8 comes 944 days after final assembly 1st began on the aircraft, which is made up of more than 50% composite materials by weight. The 787 was initially targeted to fly in the 3rd quarter of 2007. Despite the delays, the aircraft, which aims to delivery 20% improvement in fuel burn over its predecessor, the 767, has sold more units pre-first flight than any commercial aircraft in the company's history. The twin-engined 787-8 will carry 210 to 250 passengers nonstop between 7670 to 8200 nautical miles. Boeing holds 840 firm orders from 56 customers. Certification and 1st delivery of the 787 is expected in the 4th quarter of 2010 to Japan's ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS.