Boeing 787 equipped with GE engines makes 1st flight; 5th jet in test program

Another Boeing 787 test plane takes to the sky

EVERETT, Wash. — The fifth Boeing 787 in the new plane’s testing program takes its first flight.

Boeing officials say the aircraft flew for three hours and 48 minutes over Washington state Wednesday before returning to Paine Field in Everett. Captain Mike Bryan says the flight went as expected.

The jet is the first 787 to be equipped with General Electric engines and will be used to demonstrate that that type of engine won’t affect its flying characteristics. The four previous test 787s had Rolls-Royce engines. Boeing says the sixth and final 787 to take part in the flight test program is expected to fly before the end of next month.