On Monday, August 3rd, Boeing’s third 777X airframe (WH003, N779XY) took off from Paine Field at 13:55 local time. Boeing said that WH003 would test propulsion performance.
Boeing 777X number 1 prior to takeoff. Photo credit: Boeing Commercial Airplane Company. First Test Flight. This first flight was a basic functionality test flight at low speed and low altitude. Entry into service for the Boeing 777X has already been delayed significantly. First the plane was delayed due to production issues, and then the plane was delayed due to the pandemic. For context, the Boeing 777X was supposed to complete its first test flight in mid-2019, but that ended up being pushed back to early 2020. This delay was due to. Boeing successfully flew and landed its new 777X aircraft, the first commercial airplane with folding wingtips. Watch a full recap of the day's events.Subsc.
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After 2 hours and 45 minutes in the air, N779XY went to Moses Lake to do some touch & gos, then landed at Boeing Field. Once the testing phase has been completed, WH003 and WH004 (N779XZ, the next 777X to fly) will be delivered to Lufthansa in 2022.
As a reminder, Boeing’s first 777X (WH001, N779XW) performed its first flight on January 25th (video), while the second one (WH002, N779XX) took off on its maiden flight on April 30th (video). With first delivery to an airline delayed to 2022, Boeing’s 777X will be certified as part of the 777 family.
The 3rd @Boeing#777X test frame #N779XY takes the active for a back taxi to the Boeing flight line after its 1st flight. pic.twitter.com/FJQAVrumt0
— Woodys Aeroimages (@AeroimagesChris) August 4, 2020
The third Boeing 777-9 WH003 N779XY taxi test at KPAE today.#777X#ge9xpic.twitter.com/XZVDK5jHmW
— Jennifer Schuld (@JenSchuld) August 3, 2020
The 3rd @Boeing#777X test frame holds on taxiway Bravo for its turn to back taxi on the runway after its first flight today. pic.twitter.com/K1aMwp8FWN
— Woodys Aeroimages (@AeroimagesChris) August 4, 2020
The 3rd @BoeingAirplanes#777X Test Frame #N779XY arrives at Boeing Field after its first flight today. pic.twitter.com/3ArVXNzGMK
— Woodys Aeroimages (@AeroimagesChris) August 4, 2020
Boeing 777-9X WH003 N779XY taxiing out and taking off from 34L at KPAE today for her first flight. pic.twitter.com/ufqSmqTMiQ
— Jennifer Schuld (@JenSchuld) August 3, 2020
WH003 taxi test, waiting 9 minutes for engine stabilization before takeoff pic.twitter.com/Hz786X60y4
— Paine Airport (@mattcawby) August 3, 2020
The 3rd 777X (N779XY) took flight today. This frame will also be used for test flights.
Publicată de Full Throttle Photos pe Luni, 3 august 2020
Today Boeing celebrates another milestone with the companies flagship aircraft, the 777-9X. At 13:55 local time BOE003…
Publicată de Brandon Farris Photography pe Luni, 3 august 2020
- Boeing’s new 777X completed its first flight Saturday.
- Some see it as a “ray of hope” for the beleaguered aviation manufacturer.
- But it’s too soon to forget what went wrong with the MAX. The same Boeing culture gave us this new plane. How can we trust the 777X?
The world’s new largest twin engine airliner, the Boeing 777X, just completed its first flight Saturday. 777X chief test pilot Van Chaney told reporters it “was awesome.” But the new aircraft is the only bright spot in months of bleak Boeing headlines.
Boeing (NYSE:BA) is hoping the new product will boost its image. 777X’s marketing director says the new plane “represents the great things we can do as a company.” CNN says the maiden flight is “a ray of hope for the troubled US aviation company.”
But the fact that CNN reported the crowd was actually “relieved” to see the plane take off (without crashing) tells consumers and investors all they need to know.
And if that doesn’t, Boeing stock’s 27% tumble since last March should. As well as its Moody’s credit downgrade in December, its negative airplane sales in 2019, and analyst expectations that its fourth quarter earnings will be an “absolute disaster.”
Boeing has a fatal trust deficit.
The 737 MAX Scandal Keeps Getting Worse
Between October 2018 and March 2019, 346 people died in two airplane crashes caused by faulty software in new 737 MAX planes. The first accident was a Lion Air flight in Indonesia. The second was an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
The MAX has been grounded by aviation authorities worldwide since March. During that time, we learned the 737 MAX catastrophes emerged from a corporate culture of cover ups and cutting corners at Boeing. In October, emails from 2016 show a Boeing lead pilot warned of the “egregious” flight control software implicated in the 737 crashes.
The pilot specifically complained of the issues that led to the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines disasters. In 2017, he instructed an FAA employee to remove the flight control system from pilot manuals and training. In another email to an FAA official, he said he was “jedi mind-tricking regulators.”
After Boeing executives became aware of the documents, a source said Boeing failed to turn them over to the FAA for four months. Then we learned earlier this month that Lion Air specifically requested simulator training for 737 MAX pilots. And that Boeing pushed the airline not to train its pilots to cut corners for the MAX roll out.
Then a U.S. House committee investigating Boeing released text messages between employees actually mocking Lion Air for the request. One employee says:
Now friggin Lion Air might need a sim to fly the MAX, and maybe because of their own stupidity. I’m scrambling trying to figure out how to unscrew this now! idiots
Another replies:
WHAT THE F%$&!!!! But their sister airline is already flying it!
Boeing’s culture is still precedent for the 777X
Boeing 777x Test Flight Schedule
The Boeing 777-9X is the next generation model in the 26-year-old 777 lineup. The 777X features a larger fuselage with a wider cabin for extra seating capacity. It’s also updated with composite material wings, folding wingtips, and new GE9X engines.
So far the 777 family has been one of the safest planes to ever fly. It’s had a a 0.18 crash rate per million flights. But the latest model has been significantly redesigned and tested by the same Boeing, with the same corporate culture that gave us the 737 MAX.
And the way Boeing handled setbacks during the development of the new 777 should make any airline passenger think twice about flying on one. It’s the same pattern of rushing the product to market and covering up information that preceded the MAX disaster.
First Flight Of Boeing 777x
In September, 777X failed a stress test that involved bending the wings to a worst case scenario level. Those familiar with the test reported that the rear part of the fuselage depressurized, and a door came off the plane. But Boeing downplayed it to investors as a “testing issue,” instead of acknowledging a test failure.
Satisfied with the characterization and reassurances, Boeing shares ended the day 3% higher. But in November, we learned the test failure was far more serious than Boeing let on. A photo obtained by the Seattle Times showed the 777X fuselage split wide open:
Boeing has kept the details secret, but photos obtained by the Seattle Times show that the extent of the damage was greater than previously disclosed and earlier reports were wrong about crucial details. The test plane is a complete write-off, its fuselage skin ripped wide open just behind the wing.
The 777’s new General Electric-designed engines have had problems in development as well. GE has had to recall the engines mid-development after testing found their high-pressure compressor overheats. Despite the setbacks, Boeing kept pushing for a 2019 launch of the new plane. The company eventually relented and gave up that timeline.
777x First Flight Date
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.