Boeing has successfully achieved the heaviest aircraft take-off in the company’s history using a 747-8 freighter aircraft from a desert airfield in California, US.
As a part of the ongoing test flight programme, a 747-8 freighter was weighed down with 3,000lb steel plates and a heavy load of fuel before taking-off for a four-hour test flight.
The plane was loaded 25,000lb heavier than what is expected to be its certified maximum take-off weight of 975,000lb for the test, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The 747-8 programme has been plagued by delays and increased costs, Boeing aims to deliver the first cargo jet to Cargolux by end of this year.
The first 747-8 freighter flights took place in February 2010 and there are four jets currently in the test flight programme.
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