On January 31, 2022, Qatar Airways became the launch customer for the 777X Freighter program, with an order of up to 50 Boeing Freighters, expanding its commitment to the Boeing 777X family. On November 7, 2019, Lufthansa stated it had converted 14 orders into options, leaving 6 firm commitments, after having negotiated a change as part of its order for s. On February 14, 2019, it was reported that Etihad would take only 6 of the X airliners it had originally ordered.

Design effort

Some customers bemoaned the loss of engine competition, like Air Lease Corporation’s CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy who wanted a choice of engines. In the rest of 2013, thrust was bumped to 102,000 and 105,000 lbf (450 and 470 kN) to support the MTOW growing from 769,413 to 775,000 lb (349,000 to 351,534 kg) and increasing the payload-range, with a possible 108,000 lbf (480 kN) envisioned. In 2011, Boeing refined its response to the revamped Airbus A350 XWB with three 777X models, targeting a firm configuration in 2015, flying in late 2017 or 2018, and entering service by 2019.

Third generation (777X): -8/-8F/-9

• The FAA awarded 180-minute ETOPS clearance (“ETOPS-180”) for the Pratt & Whitney PW4084-engined aircraft on May 30, 1995, making it the first airliner to carry an ETOPS-180 rating at its entry into service.
• As of 2018update, Emirates was the largest operator with a fleet of 163 aircraft.
• The development phase of the 777 coincided with United Airlines replacement program for its aging DC-10s.
• The aircraft, operated by British Airways, sustained fire damage to the lower wing panels and engine housing; it was later repaired and returned to service.
• The first body join happened in February for a delivery planned in summer 2020 to Lufthansa.
• Boeing recommended suspending flights of all 128 operational 777s equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines until they had been inspected.

It can cover long-range routes without needing a refuel, which is a big deal for airlines trying to connect cities like Dubai to Los Angeles or Sydney to London. The twin-engine setup is also why the 777 is so fuel-efficient, great for airlines looking to lower operating costs. It was the first commercial airplane to be fully designed on computers, which allowed for better precision and faster development.

On November 13, the FAUB robotic system was abandoned after six years of implementation, to use human machinists more. The 777X was already a year behind schedule as service introduction was targeted for 2022, a further delay due to the certification as a derivative could risk key orders. Depending on the outcome of its root cause investigation, Boeing should have time to modify the failed part and repeat the test during the margin from the existing engine-related delays. GE Aviation in Ohio is recalling four GE9X turbofans from Boeing in Washington state in Antonov An-124 freighters from Volga-Dnepr Airlines, mounted in 26 x 14 x 13 ft (8 x 4 x 4 m), 36,000 lb (16.3 t) stands. The company continued to target first deliveries in 2020, though it intends to boost production of current-generation 777 freighters in 2020. The 777X test plan was later revised as several months are required to develop and test fixes to the GE9X, and first flight slipped to October–November.

As of 17 June 2019update, GE expressed confidence that the engine would receive certification during the fall and that the first flight of the 777X would still occur in 2019. To position wings and fuselage sections, automated guided vehicles are replacing overhead cranes and “monuments” – large, permanent tooling fixtures. First deliveries are planned for May 2020 while the first production wing spar was going to be loaded in early December.

Designed to begin extended operations (ETOPS) at delivery, the 777 quickly became the preferred airplane for busy long-distance routes, especially across the Pacific Ocean. It also can carry a full cargo load on routes where other airplanes are payload limited. It will carry more passengers and more revenue cargo farther than any other jetliner.

Aircraft on display

The aircraft sustained heat damage and was written off as the eighth hull loss. The pilots initiated a go-around procedure shortly after the wheels touched-down onto the runway; however, the aircraft settled back onto the ground, apparently due to late throttle application. The preliminary investigation indicated that the aircraft was attempting a landing during active wind shear conditions. On July 29, 2015, an item later identified as a flaperon from the still missing aircraft was found on the island of Réunion in the western Indian Ocean, consistent with having drifted from the main search area. Air Traffic Control’s last reported coordinates for the aircraft were over the South China Sea. The aircraft sustained structural, heat and smoke damage, and was written off.

Variants for the Boeing 777

Lasting 22 hours and 42 minutes, the flight surpassed the -200LR’s standard design range and was logged in the Guinness World Records. On November 10, 2005, the first -200LR set a record for the longest non-stop flight of a passenger airliner by flying 11,664 nautical miles (21,602 km; 13,423 mi) eastward from Hong Kong to London. On February 29, 2000, Boeing launched its next-generation twinjet program, initially called 777-X, and began issuing offers to airlines.

After a nearly $2 billion loss in 2016, Etihad had to cut routes and shrink its fleet and thus is considering canceling or deferring its orders, preferring to incur cancellations penalties rather than recurring losses from overcapacity. Emirates’ demand had been slowing and it was considering deferral of deliveries, having the smallest sovereign wealth fund backing of the Gulf carriers. This was followed in May 2022 with an announcement for an order of seven Freighters destined for Lufthansa Cargo operations.

By the late 2000s, the 777 was facing increased potential competition vegas casino apk from Airbus’ planned A350 XWB and internally from proposed 787 series, both airliners that offer fuel efficiency improvements. Under the deal with General Electric, Boeing agreed to only offer GE90 engines on new 777 versions. From the program’s start, Boeing had considered building ultra-long-range variants. New production methods were developed, including a turn machine that could rotate fuselage subassemblies 180 degrees, giving workers access to upper body sections.

Orders and deliveries

The flight deck is the same on all models, eliminating the need for simulator training when flight crews switch between models or fly multiple models. Airplanes and crews are at the scheduled airport at the scheduled time more often, supporting robust airline timetables and operations planning. The 777 leads the field with fewer schedule interruptions, air turnbacks, or diversions than other twin-aisle airplanes. In addition, the long maintenance intervals for the 777 mean lower maintenance costs and higher airplane availability.

Developed alongside the -300ER, the -200LR features an increased MTOW and three optional auxiliary fuel tanks in the rear cargo hold. Boeing named it Worldliner as it can connect almost any two airports in the world, although it is still subject to ETOPS restrictions. When referring to different variants, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code collapses the 777 model designator and the -200 or -300 variant designator to “772” or “773”.

Carrying lucrative cargo payloads with a full passenger load, the 777 allows airlines to supplement passenger revenues on routes where less-capable airplanes cannot carry cargo when all seats are sold. By using 3-D computer aided design tools, Boeing engineers were able to design a more aerodynamically advanced and structurally efficient airplane with exceptional fuel economy. Due to this, the 777X is the first commercial transport aircraft to have “wingtip controls” in the cockpit. A structural link between the engine and wing was found to be damaged, while cracks were found in the same component on other aircraft in the fleet. The first join on the static-test aircraft was done in 16 days instead of the planned 20 and lessons learned from the 787 wing-body join led to a single defect instead of the hundreds usual in new models.

• Advanced alloys saved 1,450 kilograms (3,200 pounds) of structural weight on the 777.
• By 1988, Boeing realized that the only answer was a clean-sheet design, which became the twinjet 777.
• The 777 also won Business Traveler magazine’s ‘Best Aircraft Type’ recognition three years in a row.

Digitally Designed

In November 2022, it was revealed that the GE9X engine on one of the four test 777-9s had suffered a technical issue on October 6. In April 2022, after an “updated assessment of the time required to meet certification requirements”, Boeing again delayed 777X deliveries, this time to 2025. In January 2021, Boeing expected to add two more 777-9s to the test program, aiming for certification in 2021. The second 777X first flew on April 30, by which point the first had explored the flight envelope for nearly 100 hours. From Paine Field in Everett, and ended in Boeing Field in Seattle after 3 hours and 52 minutes.

Airline planners’ requirements for larger aircraft had become increasingly specific, adding to the heightened competition among aircraft manufacturers. In the early 1970s, the Boeing 747, McDonnell Douglas DC-10, and the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar became the first generation of wide-body passenger airliners to enter service. As of 2018update, Emirates was the largest operator with a fleet of 163 aircraft. In November 2013, Boeing announced the development of the third generation 777X (variants include the 777-8, 777-9, and 777-8F), featuring composite wings with folding wingtips and General Electric GE9X engines, and slated for first deliveries in 2027. These second-generation 777 variants have extended raked wingtips and are powered exclusively by 110,000–115,300 lbf (489–513 kN) GE90 engines. Over 2,300 Boeing 777 aircraft have been ordered, with over 70 operators worldwide.

Efficiency

Readers of the American Express’ Executive Travel magazine, for six years in a row, have voted the 777 the best airplane for air travel. Comfort at every seat and convenience throughout the cabin make flying productive for business travelers, restful for leisure travelers, and enjoyable for all on board. The flight deck and flight management system provide ample provision for future enhancements, such as improvements to air traffic management systems. The most powerful jet engine ever built, the GE90-115B owns the record for highest thrust achieved by a commercial jet engine. The raked wingtips help reduce the required takeoff field length, increase climb performance, and reduce fuel burn. Flying at Mach 0.84—virtually the same speed as the 787 and 747-8—the 777 gives airlines the benefit of efficiency and speed.

The aircraft’s fuselage and right wing were irreparably damaged by the fire. The 307 surviving passengers and crew on board evacuated before fire destroyed the aircraft. Its higher MTOW and increased fuel capacity permits a maximum range of 7,370 nautical miles (13,650 km; 8,480 mi) with 392 passengers in a two-class seating arrangement. With a 660,000 lb (299 t) MTOW and 90,000 lbf (400 kN) engines, it has a range of 6,005 nautical miles (11,121 km; 6,910 mi) with 368 passengers in three-class. With a 656,000 lb (298 t) MTOW and 93,700 lbf (417 kN) engines, it has a 7,065 nmi (13,084 km; 8,130 mi) range with 301 passenger seats in a three-class configuration.

Future Prospects: What’s Next for the Boeing 777?

The maiden flight of the 777F, which used the structural design and engine specifications of the -200LR along with fuel tanks derived from the -300ER, occurred on July 14, 2008. By the late 1990s, design plans shifted to longer-range versions of existing models. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation, demand for new jets fell in 2020 and Boeing further reduced monthly 777 production from five to two aircraft. By February 2015, the backlog of undelivered 777s totaled 278 aircraft, equivalent to nearly three years at the then production rate of 8.3 aircraft per month, causing Boeing to ponder the 2018–2020 time frame.

Aircraft Numbers 1 and 6 were planned to be used for ground tests; four 777-9s (No. 2 to 5) were slated for the flight test and certification campaign, with two 777-8s to come later. In April 2017, the initial one-piece wing spar came onto the assembly jig and was about to enter lay-up in June; first parts assembly for the initial -9, a static test airframe, were underway in the purpose-built wing center near Everett, Washington. Boeing built a 1,300,000 sq ft (120,000 m2) building adjacent to the Everett factory, with a 120 ft (37 m) autoclave, and a robot to wind fiber for the wings. In December 2014, Boeing began construction on a 367,000 sq ft (34,100 m2) composites facility in St. Louis to be completed in 2016, to build 777X parts with six autoclaves for the wing and empennage parts, starting in 2017. Airbus points out that handling more than one engine type adds millions of dollars to an airliner cost.

The gentle contour of the walls, ceiling, and integrated stowage bins allows tall passengers to enter the aisle and return to their seat without stooping. A wide cabin and open sight lines provide the ideal setting for the airline’s signature service. The 777 cabin is designed to make every passenger aspire to be a frequent passenger.

By the time manufacturing of the 777 began in 1993 at Boeing’s factory in Everett, Washington, the manufacturer had received 118 orders for the aircraft from 10 airlines. Compared to conventional manual hydraulic controls, fly-by-wire technology reduces the aircraft’s weight, simplifies its assembly, and requires less maintenance. The 777 was the first aircraft to be designed entirely by using a computer. It followed the medium-range narrow-body 757 and the medium-to-long-range wide-body 767, which Boeing designed in tandem and introduced into commercial service in the early 1980s. As the undercarriage was in the process of being retracted, the aircraft landed on its rear underbody and engine nacelles, resulting in the separation of one engine, loss of control and subsequent crash. US officials believe the most likely explanation to be that someone in the cockpit of Flight 370 re-programmed the aircraft’s autopilot to travel south across the Indian Ocean.