Boeing's 787 Jetliner Makes Historic Maiden Flight

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner took to the skies on Tuesday for its long-delayed maiden flight that ended when the plane landed safely at Boeing Field about three hours later.

Deteriorating weather caused Boeing to cut short the test flight as steady rain closed in and visibility dropped.

“(It) felt like we flew into the future of the Boeing company,” said Mike Carriker, chief 787 test pilot. “I wish I could have taken the whole Boeing company with me."

WATCH IT: First 787 Takes Off - KIRO 7 Coverage UNCUT: First Dreamliner Flies - Chopper 7 Video

"The airplane flies beautifully," said Randy Neville, the other test pilot on board Tuesday. "The airplane did exactly as we expected."

"(There were) no surprises and no major issues with the airplane," he added.

Carriker and Neville lifted off from Paine Field at about 10:30 a.m.

The team performed a variety of basic tests and systems checks, said Boeing Commercial Airplanes spokesman Jim Proulx.

Boeing sent other planes to do reconnaissance before the 787's flight. One plane flew east and one flew over the Olympic Peninsula. A crews on the plane that flew to Eastern Washington reported too much turbulence and that it was not ideal for test flight.

Boeing wanted good visibility for the first flight, with no standing water on the runway, and little or no wind.

The company got its wish as crowds of flight enthusiasts, aviation experts, Boeing workers, families and friends clamored to watch the historic event. Scenes From The Crowd Awaiting 787 Flight

WATCH IT: Boeing Workers Celebrate First Flight WATCH IT: 787's First Flight Good For Everett's Economy

KIRO 7 reporter Chris Francis said the excited crowd cheered as the plane left the runway.

DREAMLINER MILESTONE SLIDESHOWS: JULY 2007: Dreamliner Rollout Draws Huge Crowds JULY 2009: First Dreamliner Moves To Flight Line AUGUST 2009: New Boeing Paint Scheme Debuts

Dennis Ndredjoni, a pilot from Florida, flew in to see the plane's first flight.

WATCH IT: Dreamliner Flies To Cheers From Workers, Customers

"It's just breathtaking. I mean just to be a part of something so amazing as this is just … I mean, we flew from Florida, all the way here just to catch a glimpse of seeing this plane fly."

Aviation Industry Consultant Scott Hamilton said there would be serious anxiety for Boeing engineers because the true purpose for Tuesday’s test flight was to identify and work out problems while the Dreamliner was in the air.

He said we may never hear about the little problems because those are for the engineers to work out in testing.

The Dreamliner's next flight is scheduled for next week.

The 787 is a radical departure for Boeing, and is the first all-electronic plane, made of some experimental materials, offering far better mileage and comfort for people onboard.

WATCH IT: The Passenger Benefits Inside The 787

Boeing says the plane will be quieter, produce fewer emissions and use 20 percent less fuel than comparable aircraft.

Aviation experts said the true Boeing business test is when the 787 is actually in use by airlines.

“They have to fly the distance, they have to haul the cargo, they have to haul the passengers, they have to do it for the right price. It has to be economically sound as well as technologically sound," said aviation buff Cary Jacobson.

The program has been plagued by ill-fitting parts and other problems. The first flight was supposed to be in 2007 with deliveries the following year, but Boeing has been forced to push that back five times -- delays that have cost the company credibility, sales and billions of dollars.

Most recently, Boeing said it needed to reinforce the area where the wings join the fuselage, with tests completed on that fix just two weeks ago.

An eight-week strike last year by Seattle-area production workers also hampered the program and was a factor in Boeing choosing North Charleston, S.C., in October as the site for a second 787 assembly line.

More than 800 787s have been ordered so far with the first delivery to Japan's All Nippon Airways scheduled for late next year.