Another cargo-friendly widebody passenger aircraft takes off

Boeing’s newest airplane, the 787-10, took to the sky for the first time last Friday.

The blue and white jet took off from Boeing’s South Carolina facility and flew for almost five hours before touching back down. Test pilot Captain Tim Berg said “From takeoff to landing, the airplane handled beautifully and just as expected.”

The 787-10 is a 5.5 meter stretch of the 787-9, and will be able to fly 330 passengers (in 2-class configuration) up to 11,910 kilometers (6,430 nm). That stretch also gives it excellent cargo capability, with lower-hold cargo volume of 193 cubic meters (6,802 cubic feet) – which allows for 12 pallet positions plus two LD-3 containers.

Boeing has so far taken orders from nine customers for a total of 149 787-10s. The seven airline customers are Air France-KLM, All Nippon Airways, British Airways, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines – all of which have a strong focus on cargo.

Boeing has put the full webcast of the first flight event up on its website, but here is a well-shot excerpt of the aircraft taxiing into position and then taking off.