Aircraft

Boeing's fuel-efficient 777X features folding wings

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Boeing has launched its new 777X, 777-8X and 777-9X aircraft
Boeing has launched its new 777X, 777-8X and 777-9X aircraft
Boeing says the 777X will be the largest and most efficient twin-engine jet in the world
Ray Conner Commercial Airplanes President and CEO of Boeing, says the 777X will be 12 percent more fuel efficient than any competing airplane
The 777X has already received a reported 342 orders
The wingspan of the 777X is 233 feet (71 meters)
The 777X will feature a GE9X engine made by GE Aviation
According to Boeing, the GE9X is the most advanced commercial engine ever
The airplane's wings are based on those of the 787 Dreamliner
The 777X has folding wing-tips to increase wingspan and fuel-efficiency without limiting access at airports
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Boeing has launched its newest airliner, the 777X, at the 2013 Dubai Airshow. The aircraft is designed with folding wing-tips that will increase wingspan and, as a result, fuel efficiency without limiting access at airports.

Boeing says the 777X will be both the largest and most efficient twin-engine jet in the world. The wings are based on those of the 787 Dreamliner and will stretch to 233 feet (71 m) when extended. The company says that a GE9X engine, built by GE Aviation, will contribute to overall fuel savings.

"The airplane will build on the market-leading 777 and will provide superior operating economics," says Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. "The airplane will be 12 percent more fuel efficient than any competing airplane." The company has already received a reported 342 orders for the new aircraft.

The 777X has folding wing-tips to increase wingspan and fuel-efficiency without limiting access at airports

The 777X was launched with two siblings – the 777-9X and the 777-8X. Boeing states that the 9X will have a range of more than 8,200 nautical miles (15,185 km) and the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial airplane, whilst the 8X will offer a range of more than 9,300 nautical miles (17,220 km). Production is due to begin in 2017, with the first deliveries in 2020.

You can view a video about the 777X below.

Source: Boeing

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15 comments
socalboomer
that's really a very pretty airplane.
Gadgeteer
I wonder why they didn't use fixed winglets instead of the more complicated folding wing.
Hovnimrsk Prdelac
@Gadgeteer - vertical winglets reduce drag through limiting the vortexes but do not provide any lift, while horizontal tips offer both.
Dan79
Gadgeteer, i was wondering the exact same thing until i read the first paragraph.
"The aircraft is designed with folding wing-tips that will increase wingspan and, as a result, fuel efficiency without limiting access at airports."
maybe the folding wing is to allow a large wingspan without limiting access at airports.
Oombi
Folding wing allows the wider wingspan to use conventional parking spaces at airports.
Asoka Indrasoma
Well... might have been an obvious solution, as most carrier borne aircraft have had folding wings for exactly the same reason since maybe WW2... But full credit to Boeing for actually building a plane like this...
Wejitu Geodol
Awful big engines there....almost looks ugly.
ChicagoBlue
Boeing developed a folding wing tip for the ORIGINAL 777 back in the early 90s, because American wanted to replace their DC-10s with 777s AND fit them into the same gate space!
The wing came in THREE OPTIONS: 1) Folding, with actuator inside wing 2) Retro-fittable, but bolted down with NO actuator 3) Bolted down solid wing
When American did not place an initial order for the folding wing tip, and no-one else was interested in the weight vs gate space equation, Boeing dropped it as an option and NONE were ever made!
Deja vu all over again!
Cliff Tsay
Does it still use the same type of Li-ion battery troubling 787? I assume not, then what is the main power source for on-board electronics?
Slowburn
@ Cliff Tsay The problem with the batteries seems to be solved. The latest problem was with a french made charger that would have had to been fixed even if the plane had lead acid batteries. every maintenance squawk on a 787 is treated like news Airbus taking years to make a permanent fix for wing cracks on the A380 gets crickets.