On January 25, 2020, Boeing wrote a new tab in the aviation history book. The new Boeing 777X successfully operated the first flight. After 2 attempts canceled due to weather conditions (January 23 and 24, 2020), aircraft 777-9 (WH001) detached from the ground on January 25 at 10:09 a.m. local time.
He took off from Boeing Paine Field in Everett, Washington and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle. The first flight took 3 hours and 51 minutes, the plane flying over Washington State.
The first flight for the Boeing 777X
Thus, the Boeing 777X program is undergoing a new testing phase and is still an important step towards final certification. Boeing 777X aircraft were built based on the current triple seven, but with technologies adapted from Dreamliner 787, plus other new technologies specifically designed for the new generation 777X.
Boeing will use 4 777X aircraft for the necessary ground and air tests, which will be performed in the coming months. The toughest tests will certainly be carried out to demonstrate safety and reliability. At the same time, Boeing no longer allows a failure similar to the 737 MAX.
The new Boeing 777X
Boeing hopes to deliver the first 777X in 2021. The program, which debuted in 2013, has collected orders for 340 aircraft. 777X customers include airlines, ANA, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines.
The 777X aircraft family has 2 members: 777-8 and 777-9. It is expected that there will be a 777-10, but it is not known when. Airplanes 777-8 can carry up to 384 passengers in a configuration with 2 comfortable classes. While 777-9 will be able to carry up to 426 passengers.
The propulsion of the 2 777X aircraft will be provided by the GE9X engines, delivered by General Electric. The flight range at 777-8 will be up to 16170 km, while the older brother will fly up to 13500km.
On all 777X aircraft, the wingspan on the ground will measure 64.8 megs, while in flight it will be expanded to 71.8 megs. This is possible due to the folding winglets. In length, 777-8 will measure 69.8 meters, while the older brother 777-9 will measure 76.7 meters.