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Aviation / Aerospace

Boeing 777 (Triple Seven)

Wide-Body Passenger / Cargo Jet Airliner [ 1995 ]

The 777 wide-body has been a successful commercial addition for the Boeing Company.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 02/02/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Front left side view of a parked Boeing 777

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

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Throughout the 1970s, the Boeing Company operated the mammoth 747 four-engined, "wide-body" long-range jet airliner. In 1978, a move was enacted to supplement the 747 with the "narrow-body" 757 series, the wide-body 767 series and the Trijet 777, a triple-engine aircraft - a design proving popular at the time. The 757 and 767 both excelled in their operational service lives while the Trijet 777 fell out of favor. In an effort to fill the void left by the Trijet 777, the company moved on a new endeavor which saw it modify its existing 767 design. When potential carriers appeared lukewarm to the 767 modifications (designated as "767-X"), Boeing ordered an all-new design which would evolve to become the twin-engine, wide-body 777 family line. The Boeing 777 was developed completely from computer-aided designs, marking it as the first commercial aircraft to be devised as such. It also became Boeing's first "fly-by-wire" digitally-assisted airliner in the history of the company. In addition, feedback was taken from eight major carriers to include "power players" American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Delta, Japan Airlines, Qantas, United Airlines and All Nippon Airways.

Despite the involvement of so many companies, the 777 went on to become a commercial success for Boeing. Production of the series was underway in 1993 with a first flight recorded on June 12th, 1994. The first 777 customer became United Airlines in October of 1990. Formal entry into service occurred with United Airlines on May 15th, 1995 with official introduction coming on June 7th. The first commercial flight was recorded on June 7th, 1995 from London to Washington, D.C. Production has since surpassed 1,360 units and is still ongoing as of this writing (2012). Dispatch reliability (noted as high as 99.3%) and economical qualities have proven a major selling point with carriers concerning the 777 family. All passenger-minded versions of the aircraft can be arranged in the typical "three-class" seating configuration as needed and offer amenities consistent with expanding technologies such as personal power ports, in-flight entertainment as well as the latest in on-demand features. Since June of 1995, the 777 family line of aircraft has completed 5 million flights totaling 18 million hours of flight time. The 777 series set a world air distance record for non-stop travel by a commercial jet-powered aircraft when it completed a 11,664nm journey from Hong Kong to London over November 9th to the 10th in 2005. The journey spanned nearly 23 hours.

Design of the Boeing 777 model series is typical of passenger jet airliners to date. The type is characterized by its tubular fuselage which contains the passenger/cargo hold as well as the cockpit. The cockpit is situated at the extreme front end of the aircraft with six window panels offering excellent views out of the cockpit. The aircraft is primarily crewed by two pilots, each situated behind an all-glass cockpit with windowed views over the nose. This crew is supplemented by cabin crew in passenger airliner models as needed. The aircraft makes use of a low-set monoplane wing arrangement held at amidships and these installations sport noticeable sweep along the their leading edge. The trailing edges feature a straight section at the wing root which then sweeps back when tapering to the wing tip. Three strakes are noted along each wing underside as are speed flaps and ailerons, the latter held well outboard. Each wing also supports an engine nacelle, these engine fittings being some of the largest in commercial use today - the engine intake can easily fit a standing man, showcasing just how massive these installations truly are. In addition to the engines, the wings also house the large main landing gear legs, each showcasing six tires - an identifying feature of the series. The nose landing gear leg is of a typical dual-wheel configuration and is located under and aft of the cockpit floor. The empennage of the aircraft is conventional, with a single vertical tail fin clipped at its tip and a pair of horizontal tailplanes, also clipped at the tips. The tailplanes are set along the extreme aft portion of the fuselage sides with the fuselage then tapering into a "blade-type" cap at the extreme end. Overall, the 777 is composed of 3 million individual parts provided by some 500 global contractors making for one complex piece of aerial machinery.

Flight control for the 777 series in handled by a full digital "fly-by-wire" system, technology once belonging solely to high-end military fighter aircraft. In this system, electrical signals are sent from the pilot controls (column, foot pedals, etc...) to a central processing computer which then dictates to the various control surfaces of the aircraft as needed. This negates the use of cables and applicable wiring to achieve the same result, thusly simplifying construction and actuation. The cockpit consists of five large, full-color liquid crystal displays (LCDs) that relay pertinent flight information to both pilots. The pilots are seated in a side-by-side arrangement with equal access to all controls. The throttle is managed from a center console separating the two seats. This console forces the pilots to climb up and over when entering or exiting their respective seats. Additional controls are located ahead and above each seat position. Views from each seat are elevated, providing for a commanding view of the area ahead, to the sides and to each engine as needed. The six windowed panels converge at centerline and are heavily framed.©MilitaryFactory.com

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The Boeing 777 has since been introduced in a variety of fuselage lengths and operational ranges beginning with the base 777-200. The 777-200 was brought about as a domestic-minded hauler with a 5,235nm range and seating for 250 to 440 passengers. The 777-200ER ("Extended Range") derivative increased both the maximum take-off weight and internal fuel stores to allow for traveling out to 7,700nm. The 777-200LR ("Longer Range") derivative was introduced as a long-range commercial airliner in 2006. The aircraft's maximum take-off weight was increased as was fuel capacity while the internal structure was reinforced throughout.

The 777-300 was introduced in 1998 as a "stretched" variant of the base 777-200 featuring an elongated fuselage (up 242 feet from 209 feet). This allowed for passenger seating to range from 365 to 550 persons as well as greater fuel and cargo stores within. The 777-300ER ("Extended Range") derivative increased range through additional internal fuel stores while the internals were reinforced as well.

The 777 has also been developed into a passenger-less cargo transport known simply as the 777F ("Freighter"). The type is based on the 777-200LR production model with all of its inherent range and hauling benefits (out to 4,900nm with a 37 pallet load limit). A 777 BCF ("Boeing Converted Freighter") is in the works, this based on the 777-200ER production model. At one point, Boeing offered the 777 as a possible replacement for the United States Air Force's KC-767 - this based on the Boeing 767 line - intended to take on the same role as the KC-767 in-flight refueler. However, the proposal eventually went with the 767 model instead to which the aircraft will be known as the "KC-46A" in USAF nomenclature. 18 of this type are expected delivered by 2017.

All 777 models are cleared for operational altitudes of 43,100 feet. Maximum ranges vary between the available models and range between 5,240nm, 7,725nm, 9,380nm, 4,900nm, 6,005nm and 7,930nm in the 777-200, 777-200ER, 777-200LR, 777F (cargo), 777-300 and 777-300ER respectively.

The 777-200 has utilized the Pratt & Whitney PW4077, Rolls-Royce 877 and General Electric GE90-77B series engines providing for 77,000lbf, 76,000lbf and 77,000lbf lbs of thrust respectively. The 777-200ER has made use of the Pratt & Whitney PW4090, the Rolls-Royce 895 and General Electric GE90-94B series engines providing for 90,000lbf, 93,400lbf and 93,700lbf lbs of thrust respectively. The 777-200LR and 777F cargo models have shared the General Electric GE90-110B1 and GE90-115B1 series engines for an output of 110,000lbf and 115,540lbf respectively. The 777-300 is fitted with Pratt & Whitney PW4098, Rolls-Royce 892 and General Electric GE90-92B and GE90-94B engines of 98,000lbf, 93,400lbf, 92,000lbf and 93,700lbf respectively. The 777-300ER is delivered with the General Electric GE90-115B1 series engines of 115,540lbf output.

Up until July 6th, 2013, the Boeing 777 series had not experienced any fatal loss of passenger or crew during its 18+ years of operation. However, the unblemished record changed when Asiana Airline Flight 214 originating from Seoul, South Korea, crashed in an attempted landing at San Francisco International in California. Two students were killed in the incident while 182 of the 305 aboard suffered varying degrees of injury (some facing paralysis and other spine-related trauma). Other major issues prior to the crash proved to be ice crystal formations occurring in the engines, clogging the fuel-oil heat exchanger. This was the cause of a crash landing at Heathrow Airport in 2008 when 47 injuries were reported. The fuel-oil heat exchangers have since been reengineered by order of accident investigators and business for the 777 has returned to normal since.

The newer Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" (detailed elsewhere on this site) relies on the design and proven features of the Triple Seven line.©MilitaryFactory.com

Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

July 2018 - Air delivery carrier FedEx has agreed to the purchase of twelve additional Boeing 777F freighter platforms to strengthen its existing F-model fleet. Deliveries will take place between June 2019 and May 2025 and include an order for twenty-four Boeing 767F freighters as well.

July 2018 - Air delivery carrier DHL has placed an order for fourteen 777F freighter models. The deal was announced at Farnborough 2018.

January 2019 - it was announced that the Model 777 series has surpassed the 2,000 order total, marking a major milestone for the program for Boeing.

July 2019 - ANA has formally introduced the 777F series into its fleet.

April 2020 - Switzerland will reconfigure up to three Model 777 aircraft on hand for the dedicated cargo role.

August 2020 - Volga-Dnepr of Russia has taken delivery of its first Boeing 777F cargo hauler.

November 2020 - Thai Airways is set to place its entire Model 747 and Model 777 fleet up for sale.

February 2022 - The freighter-minded Boeing 777-300ER is being offered to the USAF for its KC-Y tanker requirement.

Specifications

Service Year

1995

Origin

United States

Status

ACTIVE
In Active Service.

Crew

2

Production

1,360
UNITS

Boeing Company - USA

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

National flag of the United Arab Emirates

Australia; France; Hong Kong; India; Japan; Kenya; Malaysia; New Zealand; Pakistan; Russia; Singapore; South Korea; Switzerland; Thailand; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States; Vietnam

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.

✓ Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.

Length

209.0 ft
(63.70 m)

Width/Span

199.8 ft
(60.90 m)

Height

60.7 ft
(18.50 m)

Empty Wgt

297,183 lb
(134,800 kg)

MTOW

544,983 lb
(247,200 kg)

Wgt Diff

+247,800 lb
(+112,400 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the Boeing 777-200 production variant)

monoplane / low-mounted / swept-back

Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.

Low-Mounted
Mainplanes are low-mounted along the sides of the fuselage.

Swept-Back
The planform features wing sweep back along the leading edges of the mainplane, promoting higher operating speeds.

(Structural descriptors pertain to the Boeing 777-200 production variant)

Installed: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW4077 turbofan engines OR 2 x Rolls-Royce 877 turbofan engines OR 2 x General Electric GE90-77B turbofan engines delivering 76,000lbf to 77,000lbf thrust each.

Max Speed

590 mph
(950 kph | 513 kts)

Ceiling

43,110 ft
(13,140 m | 8 mi)

Range

6,027 mi
(9,700 km | 17,964 nm)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Boeing 777-200 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

None.

Supported Types

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

777-200 - Initial production model

777-200ER - "Extended Range" variant of the 777-200 series.

777-200LR - "Longer Range" variant of the 777-200 series.

777-300 - Stretched Fuselage Variant; seating for up to 550 passengers.

777-300ER - "Extended Range" variant of the 777-300 series.

777F - Freight Hauler Variant.

KC-777 - Proposed aerial tanker for the USAF.

Cockpit image of the Boeing 777 (Triple Seven)

Cockpit image represents the Boeing 777 production model.

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Images Gallery

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Front left side view of a parked Boeing 777

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Tony Blair and company disembark from a Boeing 777

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