Certification flights now complete for 747-8F

Boeing on Wednesday said its new stretched 747-8 Freighter has completed its certification flight tests, a key milestone that paves the way for first delivery.

"We are in the home stretch in delivering this airplane to our customers," said Elizabeth Lund, Boeing's vice president and general manager of the 747, in a statement.

The 747-8 Freighter has flown more than 1,200 flights and 3,400 hours since its maiden flight in February 2010.

The first 747-8 Freighter is scheduled to be delivered to Cargolux in September after certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration.

Boeing has taken 76 orders for the Freighter, which lists for USD$319 million. Boeing also is testing a passenger version of the plane called the Intercontinental.

Production of the new 747 has been delayed as has the mid-sized 787 Dreamliner, a carbon-composite plane, which represents a bigger leap in technology than the revamped 747-8.

The iconic 747 is Boeing's most recognizable plane and was the world's largest passenger plane until 2005, when Airbus unveiled its A380.

(Reuters)