Story ID: GPintercontinental10312011
747-8 Intercontinental Flies Last Certification Mission 
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: 747-8I finishes certification flying.
Word Count: 160
The 747-8 Intercontinental finished its certification test flying today with a function-and-reliability flight back to Washington’s Puget Sound area from Barbados via Houston to clear customs, Boeing confirmed this afternoon. The flight marked the end of an eight-month certification program for the passenger version of Boeing’s latest jumbo jet, first delivery of which the company now expects during the first quarter of next year.
So far Boeing has delivered a pair of 747-8 Freighters to launch customer Cargolux, after contractual disagreements forced the company to delay first deliveries by some three weeks, from September 19 and 21 to October 12 and 13. Separately, Cathay Pacific told Reuters it would take delivery of its first 747-8F today.
All told, Boeing expects to deliver between 15 and 20 of its 747-8Fs and 787 Dreamliners this year. The 747-8F will account for roughly two-thirds of that delivery total, the company revealed last week along with its third-quarter earnings figures.