Tom Fontaine
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, June 24, 2011

Boeing Co. flight test director Paul Shank gave Primanti Bros. menus to his crew during their morning briefing early Wednesday just outside of Seattle.

About eight hours and 2,500 miles later, the Indiana County native and his crew were noshing on Pittsburgh's signature fry-and-slaw-filled sandwiches aboard Boeing's new, $300 million 747-8 Freighter jet at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Actually, Shank passed on one famous feature.

"It's kind of sacrilege, but I got my (Primanti's Capicola & Cheese) sandwich without the cole slaw," said Shank, 37, who grew up in the New Florence area.

The test flight included fellow Indiana County native William "Trey" Smith.

Boeing's Freighter and 747-8 Intercontinental are the next-generation models of the original jumbo jet, the four-engine widebody that first took flight in 1969. The aircraft maker is wrapping up function and reliability testing on the aircraft with test flights across the country.

The first Freighter, designed for cargo use, is expected to be delivered this summer. The first Intercontinental, for passenger use, will be shipped to an unidentified "VIP customer" by the end of the year and to the first airline for commercial use in early 2012, Boeing spokeswoman Joanna Pickup said.

Aside from Smith, no one aboard the Freighter knew what to expect from the Primanti sandwiches. Staffers from Pittsburgh International-based Atlantic Aviation picked up the order from the Primanti's in Moon. The hulking jet was back in the sky an hour later.

"Everybody loved it. They were all like, 'Who would have thought to put fries and cole slaw on a sandwich?' " Shank said. "It was comfort food for me, something that reminded me of home."

Shank said future test-flight menus will include pasties from Michigan's Upper Peninsula and lobster rolls from Maine.

Another significant landing at Pittsburgh International in the past week: Airship Ventures Inc.'s Zeppelin NT. The zeppelin -- which, unlike a blimp, has a semi-rigid frame -- made an unplanned stop in Pittsburgh because of poor weather conditions during a trip to Columbus, Ohio. One of three in the world, it's scheduled to depart on Saturday.