Boeing unveils 777X to its employees

After weeks of teasers and years worth of developments, Boeing has finally unveiled their first 777X flight test aircraft!

Although the aircraft was set to be unveiled publicly on the 13th of March, the fallout of the fatal Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash forced the company into making the unveiling quieter by unveiling it to employees only. A kind employee attending the ceremony contacted me and has allowed me to share these great photos of the largest 777X variant, the 777-9.

Coming in a 69.8 to 76.6 meters depending on whether you're measuring the larger 777-9 or 777-8, the new family of 777 aircraft is huge, especially considering its a twin! Standing up close to the aircraft highlights its size, as seen in the image below.

Powered by two General Electric GE9X engines, the Boeing 777X is the latest iteration of the highly successful 777 widebody family. Capable of producing 105,000 pounds of thrust, the engines are the largest in the world, however they are less powerful than the iconic GE90s we've become accustomed to.

The new wing and engines on the 777-9 allows airlines to carry approximately 400-425 passengers and fly them 7,600 nautical miles (14,000km). The second and smaller family member, the 777-8, is scheduled to commence construction two years after the 777-9 enters service.

With an advertised range of 8,690 nautical miles (16,090 km), carrying roughly 365 passengers, the 777-8 is slated to become successor to the Boeing 777-200LR and potentially the base for a new freighter model.

Potentially weighing 351.5 tonnes at takeoff, Boeing has incorporated a larger, stronger set of three-wheeled main gear sets. Even before properly rolling out and taking flight, the 777X has already become an iconic figure, primarily because of its unique folding wingtips, extending the wing to 72 meters for takeoff, cruise and landing. Despite the aircraft being powered on multiple times for its factory testing, no footage or news has been announced of the folding mechanism being activated for the first time.

The next step for the aircraft is to exit the factory to commence initial ground tests before taking to the skies in the very near future.

Boeing has received 358 orders for the 777X family, with Emirates to launch their type in 2020 and Lufthansa to become the European launch customer. Other airlines that have ordered the type include ANA, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and the recently announced British Airways.