- Boeing’s newest widebody aircraft, the 777X, is the world’s largest twin-engine plane in production.
- The jet is expected to enter service in 2025, though the timeline is years behind schedule.
- I recently toured an experimental 777X plane to learn about the different flight tests. See inside.
Every year, Boeing shows off its fleet of passenger jets at annual airshows in cities across Europe and Asia.
While the planemaker did not take any planes to the recent Singapore Airshow amid the fallout from the Alaska Airlines 737 Max incident, its experimental 777X did make an appearance at the Wings Airshow in India in January.
Boeing’s new aircraft will be the biggest twin-engine widebody airliner in the world once it hits the market in 2025, sporting innovations, it says, like 10% better fuel efficiency compared to its predecessor and unique folding wingtips.
The 777-9 is the larger of two passenger variants, the second being the smaller — but longer-ranged — 777-8. Boeing also plans to build a freighter option.
Despite ambitious planes, the planmaker has faced a number of hurdles during the 777X’s certification, pushing the original certification timeline back several years. Still, about a dozen airlines have so far collectively placed some 450 orders for the jet since its unveiling in 2013, according to Boeing.
On display next to its Airbus A350 rival, media were invited inside the giant Boeing 777-9 test jet to get a closer look at the certification and production process. Take a look.
