Crew Flies Boeing 747-8 From Seattle To Pittsburgh For Sandwiches

. . . I didn't read it that way at all (bad move). I thought it was great. If ya have to fly to Pittsburgh on a test flight, why not get some sandwiches. I think where the article failed is in the fact that the author was trying to be amusing, and it came out sarcastic like a tattle-tale-tattle-tale-hanging her britches on a nail as in the opening line . . . They shouldn't have opened with the phrase "taking it for a spin." Could have started out with "Test flights aren't just up and down and stay in town ...we're testing this thing against a crash . . . want a sandwich? be back in a flash." gawd. I'm so good. Hard to believe I'm unemployed.

Kate, you must be a tabloid reporter. All of us flight test engineers at Boeing are just amazed that you'd skew this report to make it look like we went joy-riding. PLEASE try to understand this was a test flight, the new -8 model of the 747 has to undergo many ,many hours of testing to prove -out he airframe, test the navigation system, ensure airport support equipment compatibility, etc. And yes, since the flight crew knew they'd be in Philly, they arranged for sandwiches at a local shop. And they are ALLOWED to do this, YES those sandwichesd were paid for by Boeing. Its called per diem. Twist THAT into another tabloid-style article, why don't you? Kate, is that your cell phone I hear ringing? Answer it, its the National Enquirer probably telling you your next article's late.

For those of you offended by the fuel consumption, cost, etc., what's the difference between what these guys did and Obama using Air Force One to travel to Democratic fund raisers?

We had a pizza delivered from Chicago to Columbus when I worked for Flying Tigers in college. We had a crewman there pick it up and send it on the first plane. It was still warm when we got it. :D

If they're going to Maine, they should fly to Bangor (2 mile long runway, used by TWA as the training facility for the 747 when it first rolled out for commercial service) and have some lobster rolls from Dana's Grill. Look people, the plane has to undergo a lot test flights. What should they do, circle Seattle? They have to take it to cruising altitude and service speed. This is a brand new version of the aircraft with a fairly substantial change to the upper deck. So chillax.

Pasties are from Cornwall (South West England) originally.

Hey folks, it's a test flight. They had to fly the plane x number of miles to make sure it was operating correctly. Would you want to fly on a brand new plane that hadn't been tested?

Pasties are meat turnovers. They're Welsh.

A bunch of unmitigated aholes. Shows how disconnected some people are...but it's their karma.

Pasties,what are you saying they are checking out strippers in Michigan? Sounds fantastic,that plane should be able to carry a heck of alot of pasties. Maybe while you're there you should try out some pastries. Although they won't be as sweet.

Who cares? If the flight crew management doesn't care, why should we? This article leaves out a lot of facts, like, "was the flight crew scheduled to go to Pittsburgh anyway"?