Boeing’s 787-9, the larger and potentially most popular version of the Dreamliner family, left the tarmac at Everett’s Paine Field on its maiden flight Tuesday at 11:03 a.m.

The flight took off to the north from runway 34L and then made a left turn headed toward Washington’s Pacific coastline. It is expected to last 4-5 hours before landing at Boeing Field in Seattle. Boeing test pilots Randy Neville and Mike Bryan are at the controls. They are the only two people onboard the aircraft.

The 787-9’s debut  offers Boeing  a fresh start, a chance to get past  the disastrous delays  and troubles that bedeviled  the first model.

After flight tests and certification, the first 787-9 will be delivered next June to the launch customer, Air New Zealand.