First look: Qantas' new Boeing 787 Dreamliner emerges from paint shop

Qantas’ first Boeing 787-9 “Dreamliner” rolled out of the paint shop in Everett, Wash., late Tuesday night. The aircraft is the first of eight that Qantas has on order.

Perhaps the airline’s most high-profile plan so far for its new Dreamliners is the launch of non-stop service between London Heathrow and the city of Perth in western Australia. That route, expected to begin in March, would be the first-ever regular passenger service to link Australia and Europe non-stop.

TODAY IN THE SKY: Qantas plans 17-hour non-stop between London and Perth, Australia | Qantas hopes for an even longer 20-hour non-stop flight to London from Sydney

The planned 17-hour, 9,010-mile route would become one of the world’s five longest, based on current schedules.

Qantas, which expected to take formal delivery of the aircraft next month, included the following details surrounding its first Dreamliner.  (scroll down)

PHOTO TOUR: Behind the scenes at the Boeing factory (story continues below)

• The aircraft, which is the 615th Dreamliner to roll off Boeing’s production line, features the new Flying Kangaroo colors, nicknamed Silveroo by plane spotters.

• More than 250 liters of paint were applied to the aircraft over a four-day period.

• The aircraft will carry 236 passengers in a three-class configuration with all of the aircraft interiors, including seat installation, largely completed.

• During the next few days, further tests will be conducted on the aircraft engines, electrical systems and other components before it takes to the skies later this week for Boeing flight certifications.

• Qantas pilots will get the opportunity to fly the aircraft on subsequent flights as part of the final acceptance next month.

• Qantas has eight of the aircraft on order and in preparation for the start of services between Los Angeles and Melbourne in December, the aircraft will complete a period of domestic flying for crew familiarization.

• Four Dreamliners will be in the fleet when Qantas launches the first scheduled direct service from Australia to the U.K. with nonstop flights starting between Perth and London in March next year.

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