Atlas will operate the new plane on behalf of Swiss freight company Panalpina, whose livery is painted on the new jet. A second 747-8F yet to be delivered will also wear the Panalpina livery.
A twin-engine plane flying to Hawaii's Big Island from California was forced to ditch into the Pacific Ocean Friday evening local time. The pilot was the only person on board.
It looks as though the efforts to get commercial space taxis off the ground is succeeding. Sierra Nevada Corporation's "Dream Chaser" space plane is slated to conduct its first test flight as early as next summer.