Boeing 777 Wikipedia

Resistant to fatigue and corrosion, composite materials reduce maintenance time, saving airlines money and increasing airplane availability. Optimized engine integrationAdvanced computational tools used to optimally design nacelle together with wing Raked wingtipImproved fuel efficiency and lighter weight alternative to a vertical winglet Optimized for the greatest lift with the least drag, the advanced wing shape allows the 777 to climb quicker, cruise faster and higher, and consume less fuel during cruise. On August 6, 2025, Cathay Pacific ordered an additional 14 aircraft, which brings the airline’s total commitment to 35 airframes. The deal also includes 8 spare engines plus two options and a maintenance service contract for the General Electric GE9X engines.

Digitally Designed

The first fatality involving the twinjet occurred in a fire while an aircraft was being refueled at Denver International Airport in the United States on September 5, 2001, during which a ground worker sustained fatal burns. The first of these, a 777F in 2018, performed the world’s first commercial airliner flights using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The program started in 2011, with the first ecoDemonstrator aircraft flying in 2012. KMC claims this requires less structural reinforcement, which results in a lighter and more fuel-efficient aircraft.

The primary systems were installed by December and its second GE9X engine were to be hung in early 2019. The first -9 roll-out is due in late 2018 and all four -9 prototypes are to join the flight tests by mid-2019, while the two -8 prototypes were to be assembled in 2020 before deliveries. To avoid disrupting current 777 assembly, a temporary low-rate assembly line was set up for up to 38 airframes before transitioning to the main FAL in the early 2020s. In February 2018, its wing components were ready to go through assembly as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the 787 composite wings manufacturer, advised Boeing on the wing assembly. Boeing’s first composite wing spars, stringers, and skin panels are formed in the $1 billion Composite Wing Center before assembly on a new horizontal build line.

• Boeing was also studying a semi-levered, articulated main gear to help the take-off rotation of the proposed -300X, with its higher 715,600 lb (324,600 kg) maximum take-off weight (MTOW).
• To stay within the size category of the current 777 with a less than 213 ft (65 m) wingspan, it features 11 feet (3.5 m) folding wingtips with the folding wingtip actuation system made by Liebherr Aerospace.
• In January 2021, Boeing reduced its sales expectation for the program from 400 to 350 aircraft.
• Due to the Boeing 737 MAX groundings and the delayed first flight of the 777-9, in 2019 Boeing pushed back design and development of the until at least 2021, for first deliveries expected in 2023 or beyond.

Variants for the Boeing 777

The development phase of the 777 coincided with United Airlines replacement program for its aging DC-10s. By 1988, Boeing realized that the only answer was a clean-sheet design, which became the twinjet 777. In 1986, Boeing unveiled proposals for an enlarged 767, tentatively named 767-X, to target the replacement market for first-generation wide-bodies such as the DC-10, and to complement existing 767 and 747 models in vegas casino apk the company lineup. The trijet «777» was later dropped, following marketing studies that favored the 757 and 767 variants.

Freighters

It’s a combination of smart design, powerful engines, and passenger-focused features that make it one of the best jets in the sky today. 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.

Preferred by Passengers

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.

In addition, the long maintenance intervals for the 777 mean lower maintenance costs and higher airplane availability. It offers unrivaled flexibility to optimize frequencies on existing routes, create new nonstop city pairs, and bring a new level of efficiency to a wide range of markets. With the range to fly ultralong- distance routes nonstop, the 777 can carry lucrative cargo payloads even when all the seats are full.

Boeing 777

The 240 design teams, with up to 40 members each, addressed almost 1,500 design issues with individual aircraft components. This was a departure from industry practice, where manufacturers typically designed aircraft with minimal customer input. The jetliner is recognizable for its large-diameter turbofan engines, raked wingtips, six wheels on each main landing gear, fully circular fuselage cross-section, and a blade-shaped tail cone. The Triple Seven can accommodate a ten–abreast seating layout and has a typical 3-class capacity of 301 to 368 passengers, with a range of 5,240 to 8,555 nautical miles nmi (9,700 to 15,840 km; 6,030 to 9,840 mi). The 777 is the world’s largest twinjet and the most-built wide-body airliner.The jetliner was designed to bridge the gap between Boeing’s other wide body airplanes, the twin-engined 767 and quad-engined 747, and to replace aging DC-10 and L-1011 trijets.

It was expected to be the basis of a freighter version which would be available 18 to 24 months after the introduction of the -8. Transported by sea from Subaru in Nagoya to Everett, the center wing-box is similar in size to the legacy 777 but is more reinforced and heavier, with more titanium. As a result, the initial deliveries are now expected seven years after the original date. Boeing confirmed expected first delivery, to Lufthansa, had been pushed back to 2026 from the previous 2025 estimate. Emirates cast doubt on this forecast, noting that Boeing had no clear timeline for resuming certification flights.

Airlines also are attracted to the strong fuel economy and low maintenance costs of the 777. The 777 has both the range to fly these very long routes nonstop and the revenue payload capacity to earn a healthy profit throughout the year. Airlines have only begun to capitalize on demand for point-to-point service in intercontinental markets. Airlines gain the utmost flexibility to match cabin configuration to their business strategy and market requirements. The dynamic LED colored lighting creates a unique ambiance during various phases of flight, thoughtfully balanced for leisure, work,  or rest. Passengers relax during the flight, secure in the knowledge that their personal belongings are stowed nearby.

Boeing in the Middle East

Whether you’re traveling in economy or business, the 777 is designed to make the journey comfortable. From navigation to autopilot, everything is designed to make flying easier and safer. Its avionics (flight systems) are packed with advanced tech that helps the flight crew operate more safely and efficiently.

Folding wingtips, 21 feet (6.40 m) long, were offered when the 777 was first launched, to appeal to airlines who might use gates made to accommodate smaller aircraft, but no airline purchased this option. The wings on the 777 feature a supercritical airfoil design that is swept back at 31.6 degrees and optimized for cruising at Mach 0.83 (revised after flight tests up to Mach 0.84). In designing the 777 as its first fly-by-wire commercial aircraft, Boeing decided to retain conventional control yokes rather than change to sidestick controllers as used in many fly-by-wire fighter aircraft and in many Airbus airliners. These changes were to increase fuel efficiency and allow airlines to add 14 additional seats to the airplane, increasing per seat fuel efficiency by 5%. The -300ER, which combined the -300’s added capacity with the -200ER’s range, became the top-selling 777 variant in the late 2000s, benefitting as airlines replaced comparable four-engine models with twinjets for their lower operating costs.

It quickly became a favorite for long-range routes, where reliability and efficiency are crucial. The Boeing 777 had its first flight on June 12, 1994, and it was an instant hit. When we talk about game-changing planes in the skies, the Boeing 777 often tops the list. These new offerings further demonstrate Boeing’s commitment to helping customers maximize profits and enhance the passenger flying experience.

• Whether you’re traveling in economy or business, the 777 is designed to make the journey comfortable.
• The most powerful jet engine ever built, the GE90-115B owns the record for highest thrust achieved by a commercial jet engine.
• This allowed engineers to virtually assemble the 777 aircraft on a computer system to check for interference and verify that the thousands of parts fit properly before the actual assembly process—thus reducing costly rework.
• Boeing received the first flight compliant GE9X on October 18 with a second engine due by the end of the month, for a mid-November power up.

Cabins were designed with flexibility zones and easily removable components, allowing for configuration changes in a fraction of the time required for other aircraft. The 777 was the first aircraft to be designed entirely by using a computer, and it was the first completely new commercial jet aircraft developed by the Boeing Company in more than a decade. The aircraft’s fuselage and right wing were irreparably damaged by the fire.

In February 2018, Subaru (ex–Fuji Heavy Industries) completed the first aluminum and titanium center wingbox integrated with main landing gear wheel wells at its Handa factory. The detailed design phase was expected to be completed in 2017 as avionics, power and other systems are ready for ground tests. The assembly of the first composite wing test example began in Everett in late September 2017 with its top section lowered into a jig for robotic drilling. Tests of avionics, power and integrated systems continue in Boeing Field laboratories and were integrated into an «Airplane Zero» in 2017 as 70% detailed design was done by June 2017. The 787 ‘surge’ line at the Everett factory would be converted into a 777X early production line by the end of 2015.