Boeing’s newest wide-body aircraft, the Boeing 777X, has landed at Singapore Changi Airport ahead of the upcoming Singapore Airshow. The Boeing 777-9X registered as N779XW landed after a 17 hour flight from Moses Lake.
The Boeing 777X family includes two different variants – the Boeing 777-8X and the Boeing 777-9X. The long-range Boeing 777-8X seats approximately 384 passengers while the Boeing 777-9X seats approximately 426 passengers. Based on the most successful twin-aisle aircraft, the Boeing 777, and with featuring cutting-edge technologies from the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the Boeing 777X has been named the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet.
Powered by two General Electric GE9X, the largest and most powerful commercial jet engine ever built, the Boeing 777-8X is capable of flying more than 16,000km while the smaller Boeing 777-9X can fly up to 13,500km.
The Boeing 777X features a wider cabin and better technology as compared to the Boeing 777. The 777X also features a massive 162 square inch windows, which is significantly larger than the 140 sqquare inch windows on the Boeing 777. Airlines will have the option for the standard mechanical window shades, dimmable windows similar to that on the Boeing 787 or customised windows.
Foldable Wingtips
Fitted with a larger, newer, and more efficient wing, the Boeing 777X has a massive wingspan of 235ft. Due to its size, one of the key features on the Boeing 777X is its foldable wingtips, reducing the wingspan to 213ft. With the wingtips folded, the Boeing 777X wingspan is equivalent to that of a Boeing 777, allowing the Boeing 777X to fit into existing airport taxiways and at terminal gates that the Boeing 777 used to operate from.
Brand New GE9X Engines
The GE9X has a diameter of 3.2m, making it the largest commercial jet engine. The GE9X also generates up to 134,000 pounds of thrust, the highest in its class. Along with its enormous size and power, the engine features parts made from advanced lightweight materials and heat-resistant ceramic matrix composites, as well as components made by advanced manufacturing technology such as 3D printing.
The GE9X is designed with improved fuel efficiency and 10% lower carbon emissions as compared to its predecessor, the GE90.
Boeing 777X Customers
Boeing has secured a total of 310 orders for the Boeing 777X aircraft.
Lufthansa 20
Etihad 25
Cathay Pacific 21
Emirates 115
Qatar Airways 60
All Nippon Airways 20
Singapore Airlines 31
British Airways 18
Boeing 777-8X Freighter vs Airbus A350 Freighter
In January 2022, Boeing launched the new Boeing 777-8X Freighter, with Qatar Airways as the launch customer with firm orders for 34 aircraft and options for 16 more. The new Boeing 777-8X Freighter aircraft will be the largest, longest, and most capable twin-engine freighter ever built. Capable of carrying the same payload as the Boeing 747-400 Freighter with a 25% improvement in fuel efficiency, emissions and operating costs, the Boeing 777-8X Freighter will enable operators to run a more sustainable and profitable business.
Boeing announced the Boeing 777-8X Freighter following Airbus regarding the Airbus A350 Freighter. Airbus first announced the Airbus A350 Freighter in July 2021 and Boeing launched the Boeing 777-8X Freighter in January 2022. The Airbus A350 Freighter is designed based on the Airbus A350-1000 variant but is slightly shorter for better stability. However, the Airbus A350 Freighter will still be longer than the Boeing 777-8X Freighter
However, despite the Boeing 777-8X Freighter being shorter, it can carry slightly more payload than the Airbus A350 Freighter. Nonetheless, the Airbus A350 Freighter boast a range of 8700km while the Boeing 777-8X Freighter has a range of just 8200km.
Boeing at the Singapore Airshow
Boeing will showcase its industry-leading portfolio of commercial, defense and support services by highlighting advanced systems and capabilities focused on safe and sustainable aerospace. The Boeing 777X is set to make its Asia debut, demonstrating aerial maneuvers that showcase the 777X new carbon fiber composite wing and quiet yet powerful GE9X engines.
(AIRCRAFT TOUR TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2)