Boeing 777X performs its first flight
- 26 January 2020 -
The Boeing 777X has made its first flight on 25 January 2020.
The first 777-9 (WH001) took off in front of a crowd of thousands at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, at 10:09 a.m. local time and flew three hours and 51 minutes over Washington state until landing at Seattle's Boeing Field.
WH001 is the first of four dedicated 777-9 flight test aircraft. It will undergo numerous checks before resuming flying in the coming days. The test fleet will endure a comprehensive series of tests and conditions on the ground and in the air over the coming months.
The 777X is the newest member of Boeing's largest twin-engined widebody family. It is a mix of the earlier 777-300ER and technologies derived from the 787 Dreamliner. The new aircraft has the fuselage construction of the earlier 777, but a new carbon-fiber composite wing and General Electric GE9X turbofans, derived from the earlier GE90. Passengers will enjoy larger windows, better cabin altitude and humidity, less noise and a smoother ride. Two main versions are projected: the 777-9 and the shorter 777-8.
Boeing intends to deliver the first 777X in early 2021 and has so far 340 orders and commitments booked by customers including ANA, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. (Photo: Boeing)