Boeing’s next plane, the 777x, which will compete at the edge of the super-jumbo class, will soon have its first flight tests, perhaps as early as February.
The 77-metre-long plane that will have seats for 400-425 passengers, is intended as a replacement for the 777-300ER, a staple of most top long-haul international carriers. The new plane, using the largest jet engines ever built and a new-design carbon fiber wing, is about the same weight as the 300ER despite the added three rows of seats and has a slightly-longer range.
The new wings, which rise upward from the fuselage and then dip down toward their outer ends, somewhat like a bird’s, are so long that they are built to fold in the ends on landing to fit at existing airport gates and hangars. Its GE9x engines were designed with the plane in mind.
Another unusual feature of the plane compared to most new designs: it’s on schedule. Behind the nearly-completed ground and flight-test versions, production has already started on the first planes that will be delivered to airlines in about a year.
Photo: The 777x’s folding composite wings on the factory floor.
