Sam Chui, Sydney based aviation photographer, has posted this composite image of the lift off by the composite 787 Dreamliner prototype at about 5.30 am.

I’m not sure if Sam is in Everett or took this off a webcast, but because of ‘fraudband’ connection speeds in the southern highlands my live feed from the Boeing webcast fell over.

As they do.

Image copyright Sam Chui and posted on public domains
Image copyright Sam Chui and posted on public domains

Here is a slightly clearer image on Twitpix via Twitter.

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The on-line coverage is yet another reminder that current technology and bandwidth hasn’t produced a reliably desirable alternative to being there or why websites are generally administered by the intellectually challenged as those who logged into the Boeing site at newairplane.com with the latest version 10 series Flash player were told it required version 9.

The 787 prototype is now being tracked on Flightaware at its planned ceiling of 15,000 feet for a filed flight plan of five hours 44 minutes duration and is reported on ATC as being above the cloud deck.

Some decent photos should thus follow from Boeing. More on the Dreamliner first flight later today.

UPDATE: As Comet picked up faster than I can type, the flight has been cut short. See comments below.