Boeing 777X.Boeing
Boeing’s new flagship 777X aircraft is the first commercial plane to have folding wingtips.Airport gate space concerns ignited the need for the new wingtip folding mechanism.Eight airlines have ordered the jet so far, like Emirates and Lufthansa, but none are US-based.Boeing’s latest addition to its growing fleet of commercial jets is the innovative 777X, making its global debut at the Dubai Air Show in August.The Boeing 777X at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider
Boeing just showed off its 777X flagship, the world’s new largest twin-engine passenger jet — take a closer look at the $442.2 million plane
The high-performing plane, which has been in production since 2013, combines the passenger capacity of Boeing’s jumbo 747 and the efficiency of its 787 Dreamliner.The Boeing 777X at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: Insider
The company has created two variants of its new flagship jet, the 777-8 and the 777-9, capable of carrying up to 384 and 426 passengers, respectively.
Rendering of 777X economy cabin.Boeing
Source: Boeing
When complete, the 777X, which is a successor to the 777, will be the world’s largest twin-engine passenger jet.
Boeing 777X.Boeing
Source: Insider
While there has been a lot of hype around the plane’s launch, engine issues and caution over the plane’s flight control system stalled production.The Boeing 777X at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: Airline Ratings
Mike Fleming, Boeing senior vice president, told reporters at the Dubai Air Show that the 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 prompted the FAA to tell Boeing to take a closer look at its 777X systems.Boeing 737 MAXBlueBarronPhoto/Shutterstock
Source: Airline Ratings
“The (737 MAX) accidents caused us to reflect on development programs and what we do, and we’re taking those lessons learned on the Max and extending those onto the next development programs,” Fleming said.The Boeing 777X at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: Airline Ratings
Since the aircraft’s first flight in January 2020, it has racked up over 1,700 hours across more than 600 test flights.By the time it enters service, which is slated for 2023, the jet will be the most rigorously tested plane in the company’s history.The Boeing 777X at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: Airline Ratings
One of the most distinctive features of the 777X’s design is its innovative folding wingtips, a first in commercial aviation.Boeing 777X folding wingtip.Boeing
Source: The Points Guy
The never-before-seen technology has several advantages.
First and foremost, the idea to create folding wingtips stemmed from airport gate space limitations.The Boeing 777X at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: The Points Guy
The 777X boasts an impressive 235 feet and five-inch wingspan.
However, the mammoth length stretches too wide for most airport gates.The Boeing 777X at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: The Points Guy
To combat the issue, Boeing created the folding mechanism that reduces the wingspan to 212 feet and nine inches — the length of the 777’s wings.
This allows the 777X to fit into gates capable of fitting the current 777 models.Air New Zealand Boeing 777 at the gate at LAX.Thiago B Trevisan/Shutterstock
Source: The Points Guy
With the technology, the airplane will not be limited to which airports it can operate out of, an issue that many operators of the Airbus A380 faced after the superjumbo’s debut in 2007.Airbus A380Airbus
Source: Simple Flying
While Boeing could have simply kept the wings the same length as the 777, the extended wingspan improves the plane’s performance.Boeing 777X.Boeing
Source: Simple Flying
The 777X’s wings are about 23 feet longer than the 777, allowing the jet to generate more lift.According to Boeing, this increases efficiency by reducing fuel burn by about 10%.The Boeing 777X at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: Simple Flying
Though some may think widening the wingspan would create a heavier plane, Boeing has used a lightweight composite material for the 777X’s wings, meaning the longer wings do not increase the jet’s weight.
The Boeing 777X at Dubai Airshow 2021.Thomas Pallini/Insider
Source: Simple Flying
The composite materials are also beneficial because they allow the wings to flex and bend during flight, which lowers the risk of damage.Boeing 777X.Boeing
Source: Simple Flying
The highly-anticipated 777X is set to launch in 2023 and already has orders from eight airlines, including All Nippon Airways… All Nippon AirwaysHit1912/Shutterstock
Source: Boeing
British Airways… A British Airways Airbus A380.Philip Pilosian / Shutterstock.com
Source: Boeing
Cathay Pacific… Cathay Pacific.JIMMOYHT/Shutterstock
Source: Boeing
Emirates… Emirates Airbus A380kamilpetran/Shutterstock
Source: Boeing
Etihad Airways… An Etihad Airways Boeing 777-300ER.KITTIKUN YOKSAP/Shutterstock.com
Source: Boeing
Lufthansa… Lufthansa aircraft.Dirk Daniel Mann/Shutterstock
Source: Boeing
Qatar Airways… A Qatar Airways jet arriving from Doha, Qatar, at the airport in Frankfurt, Germany, in January 2015.AP Photo/Michael Probst, File
And Singapore Airlines.A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER.Thiago B Trevisan/Shutterstock.com
The largest operator of the jet and the launch customer is set to be Emirates, which placed an order for 150 777Xs at the 2013 Dubai Air Show.Since then, Emirates has revised its order to 126.
Emirates 777-300ER.JetKat/Shutterstock
Source: Reuters
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