Boeing 777X

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Boeing 777X
File:Boeing 777X launch.jpg
Computer rendering of the upcoming Boeing 777-8 and -9
Role Wide-body jet airliner
National origin United States
Manufacturer Boeing Commercial Airplanes
First flight scheduled Q1 2019[1]
Introduction December 2019 (planned)[2]
Status Under development
Produced 2017–present
Developed from Boeing 777

The Boeing 777X is a new series of the long-range wide-body twin-engine Boeing 777 family that is under development by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The 777X is to feature GE9X new engines, new composite wings with folding wingtips, a denser cabin, and technologies from the Boeing 787. The 777X series was launched in November 2013 with two variants: the 777-8 and the 777-9. The 777-8 has seating for 365 and range of over 8,700 nmi (16,110 km) and the 777-9 has seating for 414 and range of over 7,600 nmi (14,075 km). The -9 is to fly in the first quarter of 2019 with deliveries to begin in December 2019.

Development

Initial design

In 2010–2011, Boeing refined its response to the revamped Airbus A350 with three 777X models, targeting a firm configuration in 2015, flying in late 2017 or 2018 and entering service by 2019. The 407 passenger -9X should stretch the -300ER by four frames to 250 ft 11 in (76.48 m), for a 344t (759,000lb) MTOW and powered by 99,500 lbf (443 kN) engines, targeting per-seat 21% better fuel burn and 16% better operating cost. The smaller 353-seat -8X was to stretch the -200ER by ten frames to 228 ft 2 in (69.55 m), with a 315 t (694,000 lb) MTOW and 88,000 lbf (390 kN) turbofans to compete with the A350-900 with improvements over the -200ER like the -9X over the -300ER. A -8LX with the -9X MTOW would have a 9,480 nmi (17,560 km) range.[3] The current -200LR/300ER have a 775,000 lb (352 t) MTOW.

A new CFRP wing would be 213 ft 3 in or 225 ft 1 in (65 or 68.6 m) wide with blended winglets, or up to 233ft 5in (71.1m) with raked wingtip for a 10% larger wing area, ICAO aerodrome code F like the 747-8 and A380 but with 22ft 6in (6.9m) folding wingtips it would stay within the 213ft 4in (65m) code E like current 777s. Horizontal stabilisers would be extended.[3]

Engine selection

The GE90-115B of the 777-200LR/300ER already have a 42:1 overall pressure ratio and 23:1 HP compressor ratio. Rolls-Royce Plc proposed its 337cm (132in) fan RB3025 concept with a 12:1 bypass ratio and 62:1 overall pressure ratio, targeting more than 10% better fuel burn over the GE90-115B and 15% over its Trent 800 powering the 777, with a composite fan and a core derived from the Trent 1000 with advanced HP materials. Pratt & Whitney responded with a 100,000 lbf (440 kN) PW1000G architecture. GE Aviation proposed the 325 cm (128 in) fan diameter GE9X with a 10:1 bypass ratio, a 60:1 overall pressure ratio and 27:1 HP compressor ratio for a 10% fuel burn improvement.[3]

In March 2013, Boeing selected the GE9X with a 132 in (335 cm) fan at this time, its new core first run is expected in 2014, design should be frozen in 2015, the first engine will run in 2016 before flight testing in 2017 and certification in 2018.[4] It will be the largest fan by GE.[5] In the rest of 2013, thrust was bumped to 102,000 and 105,000 lbf (450 and 470 kN) to support the MTOW growing from 349,000 to 351,534 kg (769,413 to 775,000 lb) and increasing the payload-range, with even 108,000 lbf (480 kN) envisioned.[6]

Customers bemoan the loss of engine competition, like Air Lease Corporation's CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy who wants a choice of engines. Airbus points out that handling more than one engine type adds millions of dollars to an airliner cost. Pratt and Whitney said "Engines are no longer commodities...the optimization of the engine and the aircraft becomes more relevant."[7]

Launch

In 2012, as it was already developing the 737 MAX and preparing the 787-10 launch, a risk-averse Boeing slowed the development but introduction was still forecast for 2019.[8] On May 1, Boeing's board of directors approved selling the 353-seat -8LX to replace the 777-300ER from 2021, after the larger 406-seat -9X.[4]

On September 18, 2013, Lufthansa became its launch customer by selecting for its long-haul fleet 34 Boeing 777-9X, to be launched later in 2013, along 25 Airbus A350-900s to replace its 22 747-400s and 48 A340-300/600s.[9] The design will be distributed between Charleston, Huntsville, Long Beach, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Moscow.[10]

At the November 2013 Dubai Airshow, the -8X for 350 passengers over a 9,300 nmi (17,220 km) range and the -9X, seating more than 400 over 8,200 nmi (15,185 km) were launched with 259 orders and commitments for US$95 billion at list prices, the largest commercial aircraft launch by dollar value: Emirates ordered 150, Qatar Airways 50 and Etihad Airways 25, in addition to the September 2013 Lufthansa commitment for 34 aircraft.[11] At the 2015 Dubai Airshow, Boeing dropped the variants 'X' suffix, keeping the 777X program name.[12]

Production

In December 2014, Boeing began construction on a new 367,000 sq ft (34,100 m2) composites facility in St. Louis to be completed in 2016 and needing 700 jobs, to build 777X parts with six autoclaves for the wing and empennage parts, starting in 2017.[13] The 787 'surge' line at Everett would be converted into a 777X early production line by the end of 2015.[14] The first 777X is expected to roll off that line in 2018.[15] The -9 firm-configuration was reached in August 2015 and assembly of the initial aircraft will begin in 2017 for a December 2019 introduction advanced from the previously scheduled 2020.[2]

View of airport tarmac with terminal building and multiple airliners parked adjacent to it.
A row of Boeing 777-300s and -300ERs at Dubai International Airport of its largest operator, Emirates

With a current 777 production rate of 100 per year, 380 on order at the end of 2013 and no orders at the most recent February 2014 Singapore Airshow, bridging the gap to the 777X deliveries starting from 2020 is a challenge: to stimulate orders, sales of current 777s can be paired with 777Xs and used 777s can be converted to freighters to be sold and stimulate new sales.[16]

In April 2017, the initial one-piece wing spar came onto the assembly jig and is about to enter lay-up in June, first parts assembly for the initial -9, a static test airframe is underway in the purpose-built wing center near Everett, Washington. Four -9s and a fatigue-test airframe along two -8s will be built for testing. Tests of avionics, power and integrated systems continue in Boeing Field laboratories and will be integrated into an “Airplane Zero” in 2017 as 70% detailed design was done in June 2017.[17]

The assembly of the first composite wing test example began in Everett in late September 2017 with its top section lowered into a jig for robotic drilling.[18] Boeing launched the 777-9 production on 23 October with the wing spar drilling, its maiden flight is scheduled in the first quarter of 2019, one year before its introduction, perhaps with Emirates Airline.[1]

On November 7, 90% of the engineering drawings were released, with the airframe before the systems : 99% of the wing and 98% of the fuselage drawings are released.[19] The detailed design should be complete before 2018 as avionics, power and other systems are prepared for ground tests. N. 1 and 6 aircraft will be used for ground-tests and four 777-9s (N. 2 to 5) will be involved for the flight-test and certification campaign, with final assembly to start in 2018 before roll-out the same year, and two 777-8s will come later.[20]

Design

The 777X will have a new larger wingspan composite wing with folding wing tips.[21] The internal cabin width is increased from the previous 777s' 231 to 235 in (587 to 597 cm), through thinner interior cabin walls and better insulation to allow 18.0 in (46 cm) wide seats in 10-abreast economy.[22] The 777X will feature cabin design details requiring structural changes that were originally introduced on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner: larger windows, higher ceilings, more humidity and lowered cabin altitude to 6,000 ft (1,800 m).[23]

For the 400+ seats 777-9, new engines should improve fuel consumption by 10%, with the wider, carbon-fiber wings adding a projected 7% improvement. As 4 to 5% of fuel savings is lost from the 12 tons heavier basic structure of the larger airliner, the net fuel efficiency gain is projected to be 12 to 13%. Ten-abreast seating instead of nine with a longer fuselage enable a fuel burn per seat reduction of 20% compared to the 365 seats 777-300ER. The longer-range 355 seats 777-8 should have a 13% improvement in fuel consumption with 10 fewer seats than the −300ER.[24]

To stay within the size category of the current 777 with a less than 65 m (213 ft) wingspan, it will feature 3.5 metres (11 ft) folding wingtips supplied by Liebherr Aerospace.[25] The mechanism was demonstrated for Aviation Week at the Boeing Everett Factory in October 2016: the movement should be complete in 20 seconds and be locked in place at the end.[26]

Its maximum takeoff weight is targeted for 775,000 lb (351.5 t) like the 777-300ER but Boeing hopes to have at least a 10,000 lb (4.5 t) margin at introduction.[27] Boeing claims the -8 will be 4% more fuel efficient and cost effective than the A350-1000, while the -9 would be 12% more fuel efficient and 11% more cost effective.[28] Lufthansa, when it ordered both, stated the A350-900 and the Boeing 777-9X will consume an average of 2.9 l/100km per passenger.[29]

Its flight deck is similar to the 787 cockpit with large displays and head-up displays, plus touchscreens replacing cursor control devices and folding wingtips controls.[19] As existing regulations does not cover the folding wingtips, the FAA issues special conditions, including proving their load-carrying limits, demonstrating their handling qualities in a crosswind when up, alerting the crew when they are not correctly positioned while the mechanism and controls will be further inspected.[30]

Variants

777-8

The 777-8 is a shortened derivative of the 777-9, 229 ft (69.8 m) long,[21] between the 209 ft 1 in (63.7 m) 777-200 and 242 ft 4 in (73.9 m) 777-300. It will seat typically 365 passengers with a range of 8,690 nmi (16,090 km).[28] It would succeed the ultra-long-range -200LR,[31] and competes with the Airbus A350-1000.[32] Production on the -8 will follow the -9 around two years later.[2] It could be the basis of a freighter version which could be available 18 to 24 months after the -8 introduction.[21]

777-9

The 777-9 is a 9.4 ft (2.9 m) longer derivative of the 777-300ER for a 251 ft 9 in (76.7 m) length.[21] It will seat typically 414 passengers over a range of 7,525 nmi (13,940 km).[28] Boeing froze its design in August 2015 and should start first assembly in 2017, for an introduction in December 2019.[2] Its operating empty weight grew from the 777-300ER's 373,500 to 400,000 lb (169,400 to 181,400 kg), just over, for the -9X target.[27] The 777-9X should be longer than the previous longest airliner, the 250 ft 2 in (76.25 m) Boeing 747-8.

In 2014, Aspire Aviation estimated its manufacturer empty weight at 362,000 and 415,000 lb (164,000 and 188,000 kg) for its operating empty weight with 300 seats in four classes.[33] In 2017, crowd-sourced stock advising website Seeking Alpha estimated a 167,829 kg (370,000 lb) manufacturer empty weight and a 184,600 kg (407,000 lb) operating empty weight.[34]

777-10X

Boeing is proposing to stretch the -9 by four seat rows to accommodate 450 passengers in a 777-10X to compete with the Airbus A380 superjumbo. It has approached several airlines including Emirates, the largest operator of both the 777 and the A380, seating between 489 and 615 passengers.[35] The potential 263 feet (80 m) long airplane (12 ft more) is competing against a hypothetical stretch of the A350-1000 for Singapore Airlines.[36]

Orders

In December 2013, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific ordered 21 777-9 airliners with deliveries from 2021 to 2024.[37]

Emirates finalized its order for 150 777X aircraft, consisting of 115 777-9s and 35 777-8s in July 2014.[38] On July 16, Qatar Airways finalized its order for 50 777-9 airplanes, with purchase rights for 50 more 777-9s.[39] On July 31, Japan's All Nippon Airways finalized an order for 20 Boeing 777-9s.[40]

In December 2016, Iran Air signed an agreement with Boeing for 80 airliners including 15 777-9s.[41] This is not listed as a firm order by Boeing as of September 2017.[42]

In February 2017, Singapore Airlines signed a letter of intent with Boeing for 20 777-9 and 19 787-10 airliners; this was firmed in June 2017.[43] The three gulf carriers (Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways) hold 235 orders, 69% of the 340 commitments, which aren't as secure as they were: Etihad’s widespread investing strategy backfires as it reduces feed sources, making it harder to fill the 777X; Emirates demand is slowing and it may defer deliveries, having the smallest sovereign wealth fund backing; Qatar Airways have both economic concerns, and suffer from the Qatar diplomatic crisis with neighbours.[44]

Firm orders for Boeing 777X[42]
Initial date Customer -8 -9 Combined
Nov 17, 2013 Lufthansa[a] 20 20
Nov 17, 2013 Etihad Airways[b] 8 17 25[45]
Dec 20, 2013 Cathay Pacific 21 21[37]
Jul 8, 2014 Emirates 35 115 150[38]
Jul 16, 2014 Qatar Airways 10 50 60[39]
Jul 31, 2014 All Nippon Airways 20 20
Jun 4, 2015 Unidentified Customer(s) 10 10
Jun 23, 2017 Singapore Airlines 20 20
Totals 53 273 326

Specifications

Boeing 777-8, -9
Model 777-8[21] 777-9[46]
Cockpit crew Two
2-class seating 365[47] 414 (42J + 372Y)
3-class seating 349 (8F + 49J + 292Y)
Lower deck LD-3 48: 26 fwd + 22 aft
Length 229 ft 0 in (69.8 m) 251 ft 9 in (76.7 m)
Unfolded wingspan 235 ft 5 in (71.8 m)
Folded wingspan 212 ft 9 in (64.8 m)
Wing area 5,025 sq ft (466.8 m2)[48]
Aspect ratio 11.04
Tail height 64 ft 0 in (19.5 m) 64 ft 7 in (19.7 m)
Cabin width 19.6 ft (5.96 m)*[33]
Seat width 18 in (45.7 cm) in 10 abreast economy[22]
Fuselage width 20 ft 4 in (6.20 m) (same as Boeing 777)
Maximum cargo capacity 8,131 cu ft (230.2 m3)
Maximum takeoff weight 775,000 lb (351,534 kg)
Maximum landing weight 587,000 lb (266,000 kg)
Maximum Zero Fuel Weight 562,000 lb (255,000 kg)
Fuel capacity 52,300 U.S. gal (197,977 L)
Range[28] 8,700 nmi / 16,110 km 7,600 nmi / 14,075 km
Engine (×2) General Electric GE9X-105B1A
Thrust (×2) 105,000 lbf (470 kN)[49]

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Notes

  1. ^ 777-9 launch customer
  2. ^ 777-8 launch customer

References

  1. ^ a b Stephen Trimble (October 23, 2017). "Boeing ceremonially kicks off 777-9 assembly". Flightglobal.
  2. ^ a b c d Dominic Perry (March 11, 2016). "Boeing advances 777X service entry: sources". Flight Global.
  3. ^ a b c "A special look at the future prospects of the Boeing 777". Flight International. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Guy Norris (May 1, 2013). "Boeing Board Gives Approval To Offer 777X". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
  5. ^ "GE Fans Out on Testing of New GE9X Fan Blades" (Press release). GE Aviation. August 21, 2013.
  6. ^ "Boeing's widebody dominance hinges on 777X success". Aspire Aviation. October 24, 2013.
  7. ^ Robert Wall, Jon Ostrower and Rory Jones (July 15, 2014). "Aircraft Makers Narrow Engine Options". Wall Street Journal.
  8. ^ Dominic Gates (August 22, 2012). "Boeing slows the pace on 777X". Seattle Times.
  9. ^ Michael Gubisch (September 19, 2013). "Split Lufthansa widebody order includes firm 777X". Flight Global.
  10. ^ "Boeing spreads 777X design work to Charleston, Moscow, defence sites". Flight Global. October 30, 2013.
  11. ^ "Boeing Launches 777X with Record-Breaking Orders and Commitments" (Press release). Boeing. November 17, 2013.
  12. ^ "DUBAI: Boeing drops 'X' from stretched 777 designation". Flightglobal. November 8, 2015.
  13. ^ "Boeing Building New Plant for Composite Materials". American Machinist. December 17, 2014.
  14. ^ Dominic Gates (May 8, 2015). "Boeing will close 787 surge line to make way for producing 777X". Seattle Times.
  15. ^ David Flynn (May 9, 2015). "First Boeing 777X tipped for 2018". Australian Business Traveller.
  16. ^ Jon Ostrower (February 13, 2014). "Boeing plans new tactics to sell 777". Wall Street Journal.
  17. ^ "Civil Aviation Programs To Watch". Aviation Week & Space Technology. June 9, 2017.
  18. ^ Craig Hoyle (October 3, 2017). "777X's first test wing enters final assembly". Flightglobal.
  19. ^ a b Stephen Trimble (November 12, 2017). "Boeing achieves 90% drawing milestone on 777-9". Flightglobal.
  20. ^ Ian Goold (November 8, 2017). "Boeing Forges Ahead with Flight-test Campaigns". AIN.
  21. ^ a b c d e "777X Airport Compatibility Brochure" (PDF). Boeing. May 2015.
  22. ^ a b Marisa Garcia (July 23, 2014). "Boeing's New 777X Designs Intensify the Race for Space on Airlines". Skift.
  23. ^ Stephen Shankland (July 15, 2014). "Boeing's 777X plans: Big windows, lots of air, and robot manufacturing—CNET". Cnet.
  24. ^ Guy Norris and Joe Anselmo (October 31, 2016). "777X Production Investments Bolster Boeing". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
  25. ^ "Liebherr division to build 777X folding wing-tip systems". Flight Global. April 30, 2015.
  26. ^ "Watch: Boeing 777X Folding Wingtip". Aviation Week. October 31, 2016.
  27. ^ a b Guy Norris and Jens Flottau (November 8, 2016). "Airbus, Boeing Deciding Larger A350, 777X Versions". Aviation week.
  28. ^ a b c d "777X Technical Specs". Boeing.
  29. ^ "Modern, Quiet and Environmentally Efficient: Lufthansa Group Orders 59 Ultra-Modern Wide-Body Boeing 777-9X and Airbus A350-900 Aircraft" (PDF) (Press release). Lufthansa. September 19, 2013.
  30. ^ Guy Norris (November 15, 2017). "FAA Proposes Special Conditions For 777X Folding Wingtips". Aviation Week Network.
  31. ^ "Boeing reveals ultra-long-range 777-8X". FlightGlobal. June 14, 2013.
  32. ^ "Boeing To Make Up Lost Grounds On All Fronts". Aspire Aviation. May 27, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  33. ^ a b Daniel Tsang (July 2014). "Airbus, Boeing in game of thrones for widebody dominance" (PDF). Aspire Aviation.
  34. ^ Dhierin Bechai (May 9, 2017). "Boeing 777X: Every Kilogram Matters". Seeking Alpha.
  35. ^ "Boeing Mulls Stretching 777 to Knock Out Airbus A380". Bloomberg. June 30, 2016.
  36. ^ Jon Ostrower (November 7, 2016). "Singapore Airlines shops for world's longest jet". CNN Money.
  37. ^ a b "Cathay Pacific places order for 21 Boeing 777-9X aircraft" (Press release). Cathay Pacific. December 20, 2013.
  38. ^ a b Kaminski-Morrow, David (July 9, 2014). "Emirates finalises order for 150 777X jets". Flight Global.
  39. ^ a b "Boeing, Qatar Airways Finalize Order for 50 777Xs". Boeing. July 16, 2014.
  40. ^ "All Nippon Airways Finalize Order for 40 Widebody Airplanes" (Press release). Boeing. July 31, 2014.
  41. ^ "Boeing, Iran Air Announce Agreement for 80 Airplanes". Boeing (Press release). December 11, 2016.
  42. ^ a b "777 Model Orders and Deliveries summary". Boeing. September 2017.
  43. ^ "Boeing update indicates firming of SIA deal for 777Xs and 787-10s". Flight Global. June 27, 2017.
  44. ^ Vinay Bhaskara & Chris Sloan (June 8, 2017). "Boeing 777X Program Perched Precariously Despite Strong Execution".
  45. ^ "Boeing Etihad Airways Kick Off Dubai Airshow with new 777, 787-10 Orders" (Press release). Boeing. November 17, 2013.
  46. ^ "777-9 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning" (PDF). Boeing. March 2017.
  47. ^ "777-8-characteristics". Boeing.
  48. ^ Daniel Tsang (July 26, 2012). "Boeing chooses largest wingspan for 777X". Aspire Aviation.
  49. ^ Tomas Kellner (May 19, 2016). "The World's Largest Jet Engine Is Already More Powerful Than America's First Manned Space Rocket" (Press release). GE Aviation.

Further reading

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boeing 777X.

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