Boeing 777-200LR begins Test Flights

The first Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner today completed its first flight and began a test program that will lead to its first delivery in January 2006.

Capts. Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann and Frank Santoni flew the airplane, which carries the distinctive new blue Boeing livery. Darcy-Hennemann is the 777-200LR project pilot and Santoni is the chief 777 program pilot for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

"The 777-200LR's ability to connect the world is amazing," Darcy-Hennemann said. "Flying the first flight is an honor and a rare opportunity."

The 777-200LR, capable of connecting virtually any two cities in the world nonstop, is the fifth 777 model. It can carry 301 passengers up to 9,420 nautical miles (17,445 kilometers).

During today's flight, Darcy-Hennemann and Santoni took the airplane to an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,572 meters) and an air speed of 270 knots, or about 310 miles (500 kilometers) per hour, customary on a first flight. Typically, the 777's cruise altitude is 35,000 feet (10,668 meters), and its cruise speed is Mach 0.84, about 484 miles (779 kilometers) per hour.

Darcy-Hennemann and Santoni tested some of the airplane's systems and structures, as on-board equipment recorded and transmitted real-time data to a flight-test team at Boeing Field.

The flight-test program will involve the airplane flown today and a second one that's being built. Those will prove the airplane's safety, reliability and service-ready condition during 500 flight hours and 300 ground test hours.

Certification by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Europe's Joint Aviation Authority is expected during the fourth quarter. The first 777-200LR Worldliner is to be delivered to Pakistan International Airlines. EVA Airways is also a launch customer.

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