Boeing to fly new freighter

Boeing to fly new freighter       Boeing said it plans to fly its 747-8 Freighter for the first time on Monday. The company completed taxi tests on the freighter Saturday.
      “The airplane performed well,” said Mo Yahyavi, 747 program vice president and general manager of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Based on early indications, the airplane is ready to fly.”
      Boeing plans to broadcast the test flight over the Internet.
      Initial delivery of the aircraft is expected in the fourth quarter of 2010, with the first plane destined for Cargolux. The company has orders 76 orders for the 747-8 freighter and 32 for the 747-8 passenger jet.
      Boeing said the freighter has 16 percent more cargo capacity and
16 percent lower ton-mile costs than the 747-400 freighter.