Boeing's 747-8 Intercontinental flies skyward (photos)

EVERETT, Wash.--Sunday marked the first flight of Boeing's all-new 747-8 Intercontinental. Billed as the aviation giant's biggest-ever passenger plane, as well as its most fuel- and cost-efficient, the plane will be the only one in the 400- to 500-passenger market.

Boeing unveiled the plane at a giant ceremony at its plant here last month, and on Sunday, the plane took off for its first flight.

It is expected to land at Seattle's Boeing Field after at least a couple of hours aloft.

As the plane gets ready to taxi onto the runway, it revved its engines, which created smoke from the burning off of protectant lubricant.

The plane begins to move after sitting on the tarmac and revving its engines for a few minutes.

A look at the all-new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental.

The front of the 747-8 Intercontinental, as seen from the left side.

Hanging from the tail of the plane is a trailing cone, which, when it is in the air, can go out to between 150 and 200 feet behind the plane. The cone is meant to measure the difference between total pressure and static pressure in order to figure out altitude and total airspeed.

Another view of the plane, from the left side.

Two of the 747-8 Intercontinental's four GEnx 2B engines, which are said to be 16 percent more fuel efficient, per seat, than those on the current-gen 747-400.

The plane catches the morning sun.

The 747-8 Intercontinental turns onto the runway.

As it heads toward its take-off position, the plane heads away and is seen from behind.

The plane, as seen from behind.

Two T-33 chase planes fly overhead.

The 747-8 Intercontinental turns into position for its first-ever takeoff.

The plane is ready for take-off.

Engines fully revved, the plane begins to roll.

The 747-8 Intercontinental's nose edges into the air, just prior to taking off.

The plane is seen with one of its two T-33 chase planes, seconds after liftoff.

The plane heads into the morning sky. It is expected to land about 30 minutes south, at Seattle's Boeing Field, in a couple of hours.

Now quite far from Paine Field, the plane banks to the left.

A large crowd of Boeing employees waits on the field for the plane's first flight.