Boeing has released a video of the joining of the fuselage sections to form the first 777X airplane that will take to the skies in the first half of 2019.
In a major production milestone called ‘final body join,’ Boeing teams connected the airplane’s nose, mid and aft sections in the company’s factory in Everett, Wash. The jet now measures 252 feet long (77 meters) from nose to tail, making it the longest passenger jet the manufacturer has ever produced.
Interior images of Boeing 777X show a new level of comfort
“The 777X is a new airplane and a new production system,” said Josh Binder, vice president and general manager of the 777X. “With the 777X, the production system was integrated into the development program sooner than any other airplane, and the team is doing a great job of hitting our milestones as expected.”
It's official! We are joining together the first #777X flight test airplane here at our Everett, Wash. site. Great progress as we prepare for flight test in 2019. Learn more about the 777X and how it will be the most fuel efficient twin-engine airplane in the world: http://bit.ly/reveal777X
Posted by Boeing in Washington on Tuesday, 20 November 2018
The first 777X introduced will be the 777-9 model, which can seat 400 to 425 passengers in a standard configuration and offer a range of 7,600 nautical miles (14,075 km). Boeing is building on the passenger-preferred interior of today’s 777 and building on 787 interior innovations to create a passenger experience like no other. Passengers will enjoy windows that are larger and located higher on the fuselage than the current 777, along with a wider cabin, new lighting and enhanced architecture.
The first 777X test airplane for static ground testing was completed in September 2018. Three additional flight test airplanes will be built after flight test #1.
And the Boeing 777X program is in good shape according to Emirates President Sir Tim Clark.
Speaking to a media roundtable at IATA in Sydney in June Sir Tim told AirlineRatings.com that the first one would be delivered to Emirates in June 2020.
On where the program is Sir Tim said: “it’s in good shape and just about where needs to be.”
Sir Tim said that the engine (GE9X) is performing very well.
“Surprisingly good and the engine is a lot better than most [at this stage of its testing progarm] – it’s a good story.”
Sir Tim has been the driving force behind the 777X as he was on the 777-300ER / 200LR.
Emirates has ordered 115 777-9X and 35 777-8Xs.
The first 777X is under construction with roll-out expected in the December / January time frame.
The GE9XTM engine for the Boeing 777X was test-flown in March under the wing of GE Aviation’s 747 flying testbeds in Victorville, California.
Certification testing of the GE9X engine began in May 2017. Beyond flight testing, the engine recently completed icing tests at GE Aviation’s facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and continues crosswind testing at the Peebles Test Operation in Ohio. Engine certification is expected in 2019.
The test flying of the engine to validate bench testing is critical for Boeing to provide hard data to Qantas for its Project Sunrise for a Sydney to New York and Sydney to London non-stop capability for the 777X-8.
