It’s been a long time in the making, but Boeing is preparing to officially launch its new 777X jet. Powered by brand-new GE9X engines and featuring composite wings, the 777X has received a lot of attention in recent years. The project’s origins can be traced back to 2014, during which Boeing opened a new 367,000-square-foot facility in St. Louis, Illinois specifically for the new long-range jet. It appears that Boeing is placing the finishing touches on the 777X, however, as the company recently announced an official launch date for it.
On Feb. 27, Boeing tweeted the following:
“Our very first #777X flight test airplane will officially debut to the world on March 13th! Stay tuned to learn how you can watch it live. Check out the journey so far here: http://bit.ly/reveal777X”
Based on this tweet, it’s safe to assume that Boeing will publicly debut the 777X on March 13. While Boeing hasn’t announced the specific details of the launch, the aerospace manufacturing giant says it will include a flight test, allowing the public to see firsthand how the company’s new 777X performs.
The 777X has been highly anticipated, partly because of its new, unique design. As previously stated, Boeing’s new long-range jet features GE9X engines, none of which have been used in the company’s previous or existing jets. Furthermore, the 777X has composite wings rather than traditional materials like steel or aluminum.
Perhaps the most notable feature of the 777X is its fuel-efficient design. Boeing designed the jet with an emphasis on efficiency so that airliners can perform longer flight routes while saving money on fuel. According to Boeing, the 777X is approximately 14% more fuel efficient than its existing 747. Additionally, the 777X is capable of flying longer distances while carrying more passengers than its 747 counterpart.
While news of Boeing’s 777X unveiling has become a hot topic in the aviation industry, Boeing still faces numerous hurdlers with its new aircraft. The upcoming flight on March 13, for example, is just for internal testing purposes. Boeing must still pass the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA’s) qualification testing, which will likely require additional time. Nonetheless, March 13 signals the beginning of a new era in the commercial airline industry.
Even though Boeing hasn’t released the 777X, it has already received orders for the new long-range jet. In Q4, 2013, Lufthansa placed an order for 34 777-X9s to replace its aging 747-400s.
Boeing is expected to introduce the 777X sometime in the latter half of 2020.
