Tag Archives: 777-9

Four 777Xs On the Ramp

The 777X initial airframe has already made it on the blog when it was parked on the ramp and when it undertook some taxi trials. It has since had the dodgy engines removed and I assume some more trustworthy examples are on their way. First flight will not be this year, though, based on what I am reading in the press. While the start of flying has not been achieved, production has continued. The initial customer aircraft have also now shown up. I understand that Lufthansa will be receiving at least one of these jets. The flight line now has four jets parked up – two in house colors and two all white. Hope we will see them up and active before too long! I hear a fifth came out with Emirates’ wing tips just after I took this! I have another primer one since which is below.

777X Taxi Trials

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I had a lucky break one evening when I headed up to Paine Field for one thing, only to discover that the 777-9 development airframe was undergoing taxi tests. I got there to see it on the Boeing ramp with cooling fans running to cools the brakes. I was worried that I may have missed all of the action but this was not the case. They had two more taxi trials that they ran before wrapping up. Each time they would have a brake cooling session with the fans.

The engines are a problem at the moment so they don’t have a flight clearance. That means that the taxi trials will not get too fast. High speed taxi trials require a flight clearance to be available should the aircraft get airborne by accident. These were not going to do anything like that so no lifting the nose wheel. Just accelerate down the runway, gather data points and apply the brakes. I wrote a piece for GAR which is here that covered the trial and there is some video below which includes a head on view of the folding wingtips being lowered into the flight position.

777X Prepping for Flight

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The 777X will make its first flight before too long. Indeed, it might happen before this post goes live but we shall see. It was due to have a roll out at Everett but that was toned down due to the ongoing Max issues. Instead, it rolled out to the flight line where it has been in prep for first flight. (We will get low and high speed taxi runs first of course. I wonder whether I will be able to get up there for the flight or not.). I have seen it parked on the ramp at Boeing’s center. From across the field, it is visible but subject to a lot of heat haze. From the other side of the field it is closer but the view is a bit obstructed. I saw it in the hangar during a previous tour but now it is out and in Boeing house colors. This is a 777-9 version and the folded wing tips are clear to see.