Boeing's latest commercial widebody aviation project, an aircraft based on the
popular 777 but with proven technologies from the 787 Dreamliner,
successfully completed its maiden flight on Sunday after
previous attempts were aborted due to poor weather conditions.
The Boeing
777X aircraft took off at 10:09 local time for a three hours and
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."
Capt. 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."
The first of four
dedicated 777-9 flight test airplanes, WH001 will now undergo
checks before resuming testing in the coming days.
The test fleet,
which began ground testing in Everett last year, will endure a
comprehensive series of tests and conditions on the ground and in
the air over the coming months to demonstrate the safety and
reliability of the design.
The 777X family includes the 777-8 and the 777-9
which can have 384 and 426 passenger seats in a typical 2-class
configuration, respectively. Powered by by GE9X engines the
aircraft 777-8 has a range of 8,730
nautical miles (16,170 km) while the 777-9 has a range of 7,285 nautical miles (13,500
km).
Boeing expects to deliver the first 777X in 2021.
The program has won 340 orders and commitments from airlines
around the world, including ANA, British Airways, Cathay Pacific
Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and
Singapore Airlines.
Quick Facts:
Wingspan: Extended: 235 ft, 5 in. (71.8 m) On ground:
212 ft, 8 in (64.8 m) Length: 777-8: 229 ft (69.8 m) / 777-9:
251 ft, 9 in (76.7 m)
Boeing's 777X | The GE9X Engine, Wings and Fueslage
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