Boeing's 747-8 Freighter Leaves Factory

EVERETT, Wash. (TheStreet) -- Boeing(BA Quote) said late Thursday the first 747-8 freighter was towed out of its Everett factory and will begin preparations for a flight test.

Boeing, which has secured 105 orders for the jet, has run into problems with the 250-foot-long cargo plane. It took a third-quarter charge of $1 billion because of production delays with the freighter.

Boeing, of Chicago, said the first delivery of the 747-8 to Cargolux of Luxembourg is expected in the fourth quarter of 2010. It's expected the first flight of the new plane will take place at the beginning of 2010.

Separately, Boeing said Thursday it has finished fixing structural flaws in the first of its long-delayed 787 jetliners. The problem forced the company to postpone test flying the Dreamliner for a fifth time earlier this year.

>> Photo Gallery: 787 Dreamliner to Fly by End of 2009

The Dreamliner is two years behind schedule because of production problems and a two-month labor strike late last year. Boeing reiterated its plans to fly the 787 for the first time by the end of 2009.

-- Reported by Joseph Woelfel in New York .

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