In 1999, the 757-300 flight-test program packed more flight-test hours into a shorter period than any other major Boeing airplane derivative since the 737-400 in 1988. In comparison, the flight-test program of the Boeing 777-300, another derivative airplane, lasted nearly eight months. The Boeing 737-600's flight-test program was 6.5 months. The 757-300's flight testing began Aug. 2, 1998, when the first airplane took off from Renton, /WA, on its inaugural flight. While much of the flight testing was based at Boeing Field in Seattle, WA, some testing was done at less-populated locations in Montana, New Mexico and Arizona. Weather-testing requirements also took the airplanes to Ireland, Iceland and Hawaii.