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Boeing’s Ambitious Plans for a Record-Breaking 777-X Revolution

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Boeing is giving indications that the 777-X family of aircraft will be more of a reinvention of the 777 and not merely a successor to previous widebody models.

Boeing said early in the design process that its plans for the 777-X family of widebody aircraft would be bold. While the 777-8X was conceived as a direct competitor to the Airbus A350-1000, the 777-9X was designed to fill a niche no other passenger plane currently provides.

“Both of these airplanes are about providing growth options and flexibility for our customers,” Boeing General Manager of Airplane Development Scott Fancher said in November 2013. “The 777-9X fits in the heart of where we think the market will go.”

The aggressive designs for the 777-X initially called for a wingspan of 233 feet, which was much longer than previous 777 models. The latest specs, obtained by Flightglobal, put the 777-9X wingspan at nearly 252 feet — longer than all but the Airbus A380. The 777-X will employ folding wingtips that will allow more airports to accommodate the plane’s increased wing length.

The massive wingspan of the 777-X will help the aircraft achieve what is projected to be an industry-leading fuel economy. Those fuel savings, however, are proving to be a difficult sell for Boeing.

The airplane manufacturer is in the midst of a global effort to convince airports and regulators that the unique folding wings will allow the 777-X to meet ground clearances. Additionally, Boeing recently broke ground on two new facilities and will require yet another new facility in Everett, Wash., in order to coordinate with both Boeing Defense Space & Security and suppliers in China to produce the folding composite wings.

Orders and commitments for the new generation of Boeing aircraft shattered records when the 777-X program was launched in 2013. The first 777-X is scheduled for delivery by 2020.

[Photo: Boeing]

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2 Comments
N
notsosmart December 19, 2014

I must admit, folding wingtips make me nervous.

R
relangford December 18, 2014

Although the US Navy has had long experience with folding wings, as an Engineer, I suspect there are a number of challenges (they would almost have to be electromechanical with extreme in-flight protective measures), but Boeing engineers have been able to do amazing things in the past. Other than the wingspan, was there any discussion of cargo/passenger capacity?