Boeing successfully flew and landed its new 777X aircraft, the first commercial airplane with folding wingtips. Watch a full recap of the day's events.Subsc. Boeing 777X WH001 as N779XW Paint Hangar Rollout Photo: Boeing MIAMI — Following numerous setbacks, including an Entry into Service (EIS) delay from mid-2020 to late 2021, the Boeing 777X was scheduled to finally take to the skies on January 23, 2020, but this has now been delayed due to poor weather and low visibility in the Puget Sound region.

1. Boeing 777x Maiden Flight Video
2. Boeing 777x Maiden Flight
3. Boeing 777x First Flight Time
4. Boeing 777x First Flight Schedule

Boeing 777X made its first flight after a year of delay. Boeing depends on Middle East for 777X orders.

Seven years since the program was launched, Boeing’s newest, state-of-the-art airliner, featuring cutting-edge technology such as folding wingtips and the biggest turbine engine in the world, the Boeing 777X, finally embarked on its maiden flight, taking off for the first time on January 25, 2020.

The first of four dedicated 777X-9 flight test aircraft, the WH001, took off from Paine Field (PAE) in Everett, Washington, United States. After a three hour, 51-minute flight over Washington state, it successfully landed at Seattle’s Boeing Field.

The first Boeing #777X is in flight. After a few hours of flying, the jet will land at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington.

Track the flight here: https://t.co/ekfjglCcb7pic.twitter.com/XRTetREL4M

— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) January 25, 2020

Over the coming months, the test aircraft would be used in a series of tests both on the ground and in the air. But prior to the resumption of testing, which is expected “in the coming days” according to the manufacturer, the aircraft would first undergo checks.

Previously, the airliner was expected to have it’s first go for the skies in the middle of 2019, around the time of the Paris Air Show (June 17-23, 2019). However, problems in the development of the massive GE9X engine, purpose-designed for the new jet, pushed the schedule by several months.

The engines were finally installed on the aircraft in December 2019. Boeing’s new wide-body airliner left the paint shop and was moved for primary flight control system testing on January 7, 2020.

Congratulations to our customers and #777X team on today’s safe and successful flight, the first of many for the 777X as we continue our rigorous test program.

Continue the journey with us, signup for updates here: https://t.co/n7t9Os5Q6Ypic.twitter.com/rawf73V6x5

— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) January 25, 2020

“Our Boeing team has taken the most successful twin-aisle jet of all time and made it even more efficient, more capable and more comfortable for all,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Today’s safe first flight of the 777X is a tribute to the years of hard work and dedication from our teammates, our suppliers and our community partners in Washington state and across the globe.”

What is all the fuss about?

The Boeing 777X, which includes the 777-8 and 777-9 variants, is a successor to the manufacturer’s previous Triple Seven aircraft models. Once it debuts, the newest Triple Seven will be the largest plane Boeing ever built, powered by the biggest turbine engine in the world. The 777-9 variant is also going to be the first twin-engine jet to be able to carry more than 400 passengers.

With a truly impressive 235 ft, 5 inches (71.8 m) extended wingspan (both 777-9 and 777-8 versions), the 777X is the first commercial aircraft to feature folding wing technology. The aircraft’s tips can be folded up to decrease the wingspan to 212 ft, 8 inches (64.8 m) when the aircraft is on the ground, thus allowing it to fit onto taxiways and into regular gates. Extended, the larger wingspan increases lift capacity and allows to maximize fuel efficiency, according to Boeing.

As no similar technology exists on a commercial aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had to create airworthiness conditions from scratch. However, while folding wing technology is a novelty for commercial passenger aircraft, it already exists on military planes operating from aircraft carriers, such as the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric (GE), is building the GE9X exclusively for the latest version of Boeing’s long-haul wide-body 777 airliner. The engine is developed on the foundations of the GE90, which powers the earlier versions of Boeing 777.

Launched in 2013, the GE9X engine will be the most fuel-efficient jet engine the company has ever produced on a per-pounds-of-thrust basis, according to GE. When it enters service with the 777X, power plant, which is roughly the size of a 737’s fuselage, will be the largest commercial jet engine available.

The 777-9, which is the one that has just entered flight testing /entered the flight testing on January 25, is the larger of the two versions, seating up to 426 passengers in a typical two-class configuration. Its range is 7,285 nautical miles (13,500 km). Meanwhile, the smaller 777-8, could seat up to 384 passengers but has a longer range of 8,730 nautical miles (16,170 km).

Boeing expects to deliver the first 777X in 2021.

Source: https://bit.ly/36tDEwX

Image: Dan Nevill, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

After two deadly crashes that killed hundreds of people, Boeing is facing scrutiny over their 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

The maiden flight is a major step forward for troubled Boeing. Picture: Jason Redmond / AFPSource:AFP

Boeing’s new long-haul 777X airliner has completed its first flight – a step forward for the company whose broader prospects remain clouded by the 737 MAX crisis.

The world’s largest twin-engine aircraft landed at Boeing Field near Seattle on Saturday, local time, after about four hours in the air, following months of delays and erratic weather in recent days.

READ MORE: Inside the Alice Springs graveyard for grounded Boeing jets

High winds led to the maiden flight’s postponement on Friday, and the company blamed weather for an earlier delay on Thursday, which was rainy.

A Boeing 777X lands at Boeing Field in Seattle, after its first flight on Saturday, January 25. Picture: Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times via APSource:AP

Boeing 777X chief test pilot Van Chaney (right) and co-pilot Craig Bomben, Boeing's VP fight operations and chief test pilot, emerge from the 777X after landing. Picture: Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times via APSource:AP

A few minutes after 10am local time, the plane took off from the rain-slicked runway at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, home to Boeing’s northwest US manufacturing site.

“Yes!” Boeing spokesman Josh Green shouted as the plane’s wheels finally lifted off the tarmac.

Just minutes earlier, the pilots deployed the plane’s winglets – folding wing tips – designed to improve the craft’s fuel efficiency and make it possible for the plane, with the widest wing span ever from Boeing, to be accommodated at more airports.

The plane comes in to land. Picture: Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times via APSource:AP

The first flight was originally scheduled to take place in mid-2019 but was postponed due to problems with the new engine, manufactured by General Electric, and difficulties with the wings and software.

Saturday marked the first of what is to be a series of in-flight tests. If they go well, Boeing will officially file for approval from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The maiden flight is a major step forward for troubled Boeing. Picture: Jason Redmond / AFPSource:AFP

With Boeing facing a crisis over its top-selling 737 MAX following two deadly crashes, the 777X is supposed to compete in the long-haul aircraft market with the A350 made by rival European aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

The flight was “a demonstration to the world that we know what we are doing. We know how to do aircraft designed safely and instil trust in the public,” said Stanley Deal, president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Boeing says the 777X features giant carbon-composite wings, the largest Boeing has ever designed. Picture: Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times via APSource:AP

Major airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways have placed some 340 orders for the 777X.

The first deliveries of the new model, with maximum capacity of 384 to 426 passengers depending on the configuration, are not expected before early 2021, instead of mid-2020 as initially planned.

The aircraft encountered significant problems during pressurisation tests in September.

Boeing employees and family members cheer the 777X as it lands. Picture: Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times via APSource:AP

BUSINESS DOWN

Boeing’s business has also been weakened by a lack of firm orders from Chinese airlines for its 787 Dreamliner, which is expected to force production cuts.

Boeing 777x Maiden Flight Video

The 777X has a range of 16,200 to 13,500 kilometres depending on its configuration and the number of passengers aboard, according to the Boeing website. It is also extremely fuel-efficient, an important consideration at a time when passengers are increasingly concerned about carbon emissions.

Boeing staff cheer on the plane. Picture: Stephen Brashear/Getty Images/AFPSource:AFP

Its list price is between $601 million to $649 million, though customers often negotiate discounts.

Boeing 777x Maiden Flight

US air safety regulators could clear the 737 MAX to return to service before mid-year, a person close to the process said on Friday.

The plane has been grounded since March following two deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. On Tuesday, Boeing announced that it did not expect to win regulatory approval until mid-2020.

The maiden flight took about four hours. Picture: Jason Redmond / AFPSource:AFP

In addition to the crisis of confidence, Boeing is seeking some $14.7 billion in loans to deal with swelling costs for the MAX.

Boeing suspended production of the MAX this month but chief executive David Calhoun said this week the company planned to begin ramping up production of the model in anticipation of winning regulatory approval to restart service.

Several of the world’s major airlines have the new jet on order. Picture: Jason Redmond / AFPSource:AFP

Boeing 777x First Flight Time

Mr Calhoun began as CEO earlier in January following the ousting of Dennis Muilenburg, whose tenure was rocked by the MAX crisis that led to deteriorating relations between the company and the FAA.

Boeing 777x First Flight Schedule

Mr Calhoun aims to turn the company around and has highlighted restoring Boeing’s reputation with regulators, customers and other stakeholders as an imperative.