EVERETT, Washington -- Boeing Company rolled its new 747-8 freighter plane out of its Washington factory for the first time and will proceed with testing the plane for its first flight.

Boeing last month took a $1 billion charge for its 747-8 program, citing late engineering designs, disruption in manufacturing, higher supplier expenses and work that had to be redone. The first delivery of the 747-8 is now delayed until the fourth quarter of 2010.

The 747-8 presented some new engineering problems for Boeing. For example, the longest set of wings ever made for a Boeing commercial airplane — 135 feet long — had to be assembled in Everett. The 747-8 freighter plane will measure 225 feet from wingtip to wingtip.

“It is very rewarding to see this airplane transition to the flight test phase,” said Mo Yahyavi, 747 program vice president and general manager, in a written statement.