First 787 Dreamliner emerges from assembly line

The Boeing Co.'s first 787 Dreamliner emerged from the assembly line in Everett shortly after midnight Tuesday and was rolled to a nearby facility to be painted.

Photo gallery of Dreamliner emerging

Aviation enthusiast and pilot Charles Conklin, 30, of Kirkland, took several photos with a telephoto lens, through a fence, outside the perimeter of the Boeing facility. Just as the plane came out of the door, he recalled, he heard the crowd of workers following along break into applause.

"You could tell for the workers it was big moment," Conklin said. "They've been bustin' butt on this thing."

The Dreamliner is set to make its official debut at a rollout ceremony July 8 in Everett. The jet is Boeing's first all-new jetliner since the 777 and will be the first large commercial passenger jet ever developed with a composite airframe.

Boeing has won 634 orders for the Dreamliner, which is expected to make its first flight in late August or early September. After a flight test program with six jets, Boeing has said it will deliver the first production plane in May to All Nippon Airways of Japan.