First Flight For Triple Seven Freighter
The first flight of the Boeing triple seven freighter aircraft took place today, the aircraft completing an initial series of tests during a flight lasting more than three-and-a-half hours.
Officials from Boeing hailed the maiden flight as a step towards the aircraft 
becoming the pre-eminent long range twin engine freighter, with the aircrafts range and capability to translate into savings for operators with numerous benefits such as fewer stops, less congestion at transfer hubs, lower cargo handling costs and shorter cargo delivery times.
The Vice President of Flight Operations at Boeing, Dennis O’Donoghue remarked that "The 777 Freighter completed the scheduled three-hour inaugural flight with no airplane performance-related issues."
According to O’Donoghue, the only issue was a data-communication problem between the airplane and the telemetry room at Boeing Field. The problem caused an earlier than expected return to Paine Field in Everett as per procedural requirements, however Boeing says that the company will look to identify and fix the data issue and resume the flight test program as soon as possible.
Despite the early return to Paine Field, the triple seven reached an altitude of 18,000 feet and an air speed of 270 knots on its maiden flight, numbers that according to Boeing are customary on a first flight. Once in service the aircraft is will cruise at 35,000 feet with a typical cruise speed of about 420 knots.
Larry Loftis, the Vice President of the triple seven program at Boeing commented that he was very proud of the triple seven team and what they had done to accomplish today’s milestone. "By working together with our customers and suppliers we have built the best possible new cargo airplane" said Loftis. "I couldn’t be more pleased."
To date, Boeing has secured 78 firm orders from 11 customers for the
triple seven Freighter.
Source: PR Newswire and The Boeing Company