Boeing 777X, world’s largest passenger plane, takes to skies
27 Jan 2020
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Aerospace and defence major Boeing on Sunday announced the first successful flight of its latest wide-body commercial aircraft, the Boeing 777X. The three hour, 51 minute flight marks a new phase for rigorous test programme for the world’s largest and most fuel efficient twin-engine commercial jet, Boeing stated in a release.
The 777X includes the 777-8 and the 777-9, the newest members of Boeing's market-leading widebody family. Boeing 777-8 has a seating capacity of 384 passenger while 777-9 can accommodate 426 passengers.
Based on the popular 777 and with proven technologies from the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 777X boasts of twin GE9X engine, the latest and most powerful engines supplied by GE Aviation.
The aircraft took off from the Paine Field in Everett, Washington, at 10:09 a m local time for a three hour, 51 minute flight over Washington state before landing at Seattle's Boeing Field.
"The 777X flew beautifully, and today's testing was very productive," said Capt Van Chaney, 777/777X chief pilot for Boeing Test & Evaluation. "Thank you to all the teams who made today possible. I can't wait to go fly your airplane again."
Captain Chaney and Boeing Chief Pilot Craig Bomben worked through a detailed test plan to exercise the airplane's systems and structures while the test team in Seattle monitored the data in real time.
"Our Boeing team has taken the most successful twin-aisle jet of all time and made it even more efficient, more capable and more comfortable for all," said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Today's safe first flight of the 777X is a tribute to the years of hard work and dedication from our teammates, our suppliers and our community partners in Washington state and across the globe."
Boeing said the first of four dedicated 777-9 flight test airplanes, WH001 will now undergo checks before resuming testing in the coming days.
Boeing claims the 777X will deliver 10 per cent lower fuel use and emissions and 10 per cent lower operating costs than the competition through advanced aerodynamics, the latest generation carbon-fiber composite wing and the most advanced commercial engine ever built, GE Aviation's GE9X.
The new 777X also claims to combines the best of the passenger-preferred 777 and 787 Dreamliner cabins with new innovations to deliver the flight experience of the future. “Passengers will enjoy a wide, spacious cabin, large overhead bins that close easily for convenient access to their belongings, larger windows for a view from every seat, better cabin altitude and humidity, less noise and a smoother ride,” says Boeing.
The new 777X aircraft has won 340 orders and commitments from leading carriers around the world, including ANA, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.
Boeing expects to deliver the first 777X in 2021.
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