Video: Boeing's new jumbo makes maiden flight

SEATTLE, Washington: US aerospace giant Boeing's newest and biggest jumbo jet, the 747-8 Intercontinental, made its maiden flight on Sunday, watched closely by aviation fans and European rival Airbus.

The red, white and orange-liveried aircraft landed just over four hours later having been taken through its paces over Washington state, on the northwest Pacific coast.



"It just went perfectly," said chief test pilot Mark Feuerstein after the flight.

Boeing's largest passenger plane, the 747-8 can carry 467 passengers in a three-class configuration and is designed for long-haul routes - with a range of 8,000 nautical miles (14,815 km) it can fly direct from New York to Hong Kong, or Los Angeles to Mumbai, or London to Singapore.

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