Flight Plan Has Been Filed, Weather 'OK'

ANN Realtime Update 1638 EST 12.15.2009: The Dreamliner has Landed. Following a flight of just over three hours mostly to the west of Seattle, the B787 Dreamliner has completed its first flight, landing at Boeing Field (KBFI) at 1632 EDT. Chief Pilot Mike Carriker executed a picture-perfect landing in Boeing's new airplane. ANN will have reaction from the pilots and an official statement from Boeing about the flight when they are available, but this will be considered by some to be an historic day in aviation: the first flight of the first composite airliner. Congratuations to Boeing and those who worked on this airplane for years for a day to remember.

Boeing Video Capture

ANN Realtime update 1500 EST  12.15.2009: Chief Pilot Mike Carriker, and Engineering Test Pilot Randy Neville are charting something of a wandering course over the Pacific Northwest on the Dreamliners' first flight. The crew took off from Paine Field (KPAE) at about 1330 EST Tuesday afternoon, and has currently been airborne for about 90 minutes. Flight Aware is charting the course online, and it looks like a decent day for flying up around Seattle.

Courtesy Flight Aware

The flight was planned for more than 5 hours, but Boeing said the duration of the flight would be at the pilot's discretion. The landing is planned for Boeing Field (KBFI), but that could change as well due to local weather conditions.

ANN Realtime Update 1329 EST  12.15.2009: The Dreamliner Has Departed Paine Field On It's First Flight!

Boeing Video Capture

ANN Realtime Update 1313 EST  12.15.2009: Dreamliner is taxiing to the active runway. Next update will be at takeoff.

Boeing Video Capture

ANNRealtime Update 1308 EST  12.15.2009:  Boeing officials are conducting a final security sweep before moving the first Dreamliner from its stall at the factory to the taxiway. Thousands of Boeing employees are gathered on the airport grounds to watch the long-delayed airplane finally take flight.

Original Story: Boeing is finalizing plans for the maiden flight of the B787 Dreamliner in Everett, Washington at 1300 EST. A flight plan (KPAE PAE360019 MLP340019 PAE360019 MLP340019 GLASR GLASR7 KBFI) has been filed for the flight, and the weather appears to be cooperating. The flight will start at Paine Field (KPAE)  and terminate at Boeing Field (KBFI).

HeraldNet of Snohomish county reports that the best viewing areas near Paine Field began filling up early today. Flight Aware indicates that flight BOE1 is expected to last 5 hours and 44 minutes from its 1000 PST liftoff today. The forecast is calling for a scattered deck at about 1500 ft, and overcast at 2500 ft, calm to light winds out of the southeast, a temperature just under 40 degrees, and some rain is possible later in the day.

This first flight carries only needed flight test crew... though later flights will be accompanied by a virtual army of flight test engineers. The first Boeing 787 is registered as N787BA and will be under the command of Boeing's Chief Pilot Mike Carriker, and Engineering Test Pilot Randy Neville. Currently, the aircraft is expected to depart on Rwy 34L.

ANN will be providing realtime updates for you through the afternoon as the flight progresses.

FMI: http://787firstflight.newairplane.com/ffindex.html, www.boeing.com