A flight crew testing Boeing's 747-8 Freighter flew the jumbojet 2,500 miles from Boeing's facilities near Seattle to Pittsburgh to get "a taste of Pittsburgh's most famous sandwich," The Associated Press writes.
Once in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review writes the 747-test crew "nosh(ed) on Pittsburgh's signature fry-and-slaw-filled sandwiches."
The sandwiches were delivered from a Primanti Bros. restaurant directly to Pittsburgh International for the crew's meal.
"Everybody (else in the test crew) loved it," Boeing flight test director Paul Shank says to the Tribune-Review. "They were all like, 'Who would have thought to put fries and cole slaw on a sandwich?' "
For Shank, the test flight to Pittsburgh was also a trip home.
"It was comfort food for me, something that reminded me of home," says Shank, a native of nearby Indiana County in western Pennsylvania.
While the trip may sound indulgent, it actually is part of Boeing's reliability testing for the 747-8.
Boeing notes in a Tweet to Today in the Sky that "as good as these sandwiches are, Pittsburgh was a scheduled stop," though the did point out that the food was "a bonus!"
The 747-8 is Boeing's latest update to its iconic 747, a stretch version of the jet that is now the biggest commercial passenger jet manufactured by the company. The U.S. jetmaker is set to deliver its first 747-8s to customers beginning this year, with an "8F" freighter version scheduled to go to a customer this summer.
The first passenger version of the new model -- dubbed the "Intercontinental" -- is expected to go to a "VIP customer" by the end of the year. After that, Lufthansa is expected to put the "8i" into commercial passenger service sometime next year.
As for the "sandwich flight," the Tribune Review writes Boeing "is wrapping up function and reliability testing on the aircraft with test flights across the country."
And, there wi'll be more cuisine-themed destinations to come during the 747-8 testing.
AP writes "Shank says future trips will include flights to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for pasties and Maine for lobster rolls."
Once in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review writes the 747-test crew "nosh(ed) on Pittsburgh's signature fry-and-slaw-filled sandwiches."
The sandwiches were delivered from a Primanti Bros. restaurant directly to Pittsburgh International for the crew's meal.
"Everybody (else in the test crew) loved it," Boeing flight test director Paul Shank says to the Tribune-Review. "They were all like, 'Who would have thought to put fries and cole slaw on a sandwich?' "
For Shank, the test flight to Pittsburgh was also a trip home.
"It was comfort food for me, something that reminded me of home," says Shank, a native of nearby Indiana County in western Pennsylvania.
While the trip may sound indulgent, it actually is part of Boeing's reliability testing for the 747-8.
Boeing notes in a Tweet to Today in the Sky that "as good as these sandwiches are, Pittsburgh was a scheduled stop," though the did point out that the food was "a bonus!"
The 747-8 is Boeing's latest update to its iconic 747, a stretch version of the jet that is now the biggest commercial passenger jet manufactured by the company. The U.S. jetmaker is set to deliver its first 747-8s to customers beginning this year, with an "8F" freighter version scheduled to go to a customer this summer.
The first passenger version of the new model -- dubbed the "Intercontinental" -- is expected to go to a "VIP customer" by the end of the year. After that, Lufthansa is expected to put the "8i" into commercial passenger service sometime next year.
As for the "sandwich flight," the Tribune Review writes Boeing "is wrapping up function and reliability testing on the aircraft with test flights across the country."
And, there wi'll be more cuisine-themed destinations to come during the 747-8 testing.
AP writes "Shank says future trips will include flights to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for pasties and Maine for lobster rolls."
