787 achieves first flight

The 787 achieved first flight today, taking off at 10:28 am local time from Paine Field in Everett, Wash., as a throng of Boeing employees gathered in the airfield cheered.

The Dreamliner landed just over 3 hr. later at a rainy Boeing Field in Seattle. The manufacturer had hoped to keep the aircraft in the air for up to 5 hr., but inclement weather necessitated a shorter flight.

The 787 took off to the north of Paine in overcast weather. The runway was wet from rain that had stopped hours earlier, but there was no standing water. It headed west to the Pacific Ocean and flew over the Washington and Oregon coasts.

"All indications are the plane flew wonderfully," a Boeing spokesperson said. "The only issue was the weather."

The flight took place 2.5 years after the 787's initial rollout and following multiple delays. The manufacturer aims to complete the flight test program in 9-12 months and make first delivery to launch customer ANA by the end of 2010.

"I speak for everyone at ANA when I say how excited we are," ANA President and CEO Shinichiro Ito said following takeoff.