Boeing (Chicago) yesterday (May 23) marked another 787 milestone as the first Dreamliner built in South Carolina completed its first flight. Piloted by Tim Berg and Randy Neville, the airplane successfully conducted a five-hour test flight. More than 5,000 Boeing South Carolina employees watched a live broadcast of the airplane as it took off from Charleston International Airport.

The production flight test profile tested the airplane’s controls and systems in a series of scenarios designed to verify the airplane operates as designed. The tests occurred in all stages of flight beginning prior to taxi, through final landing and taxi.

During the flight, the crew checked the functionality of onboard systems at high and medium altitudes. They also checked backup and critical safety elements including cabin pressurization, avionics, and navigation and communications systems. In addition, they shut down and re-started each engine during flight.

The airplane will be flown to Ft. Worth, Texas to be painted with Air India‘s livery before returning to Boeing South Carolina for a mid-2012 delivery.

Meanwhile, Air India will take delivery of its first 787 by the end of this month.

Read the full report from DNA: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Boeing.

Air India Slide Show: CLICK HERE