Boeing's 787 Dreamliner Does A Near-Vertical Takeoff

Talk about showing off.

Boeing posted a clip on YouTube of its 787-9 Dreamliner passenger jet taking off and rising at such a steep angle that it appears to be nearly vertical, like a rocket. The company said in the description that the maneuver was a rehearsal for the Paris Air Show, the industry showcase that begins on Monday.

The company said the clip was filmed above Moses Lake, Washington, although it did not say when.

But while the angle is unusually steep, it's not quite as vertical as it appears.

"Some of what you're seeing on takeoff is a trick of perspective," 767 pilot Patrick Smith told CNN. "It looks like the takeoff is at a near vertical 90 degree angle -- trust me it's not."

Boeing says the lightweight Dreamliner uses 20 percent less fuel than the airplanes they replace.

Although the Dreamliner takes off like a normal passenger jet for most flights, it does heart-stopping takeoffs such as this one for demonstrations and safety tests, and clips showing those moments are popular on YouTube. One such video posted by the company ahead of an air show last year has more than 4 million views.

(h/t The Blaze)