See inside a test Boeing 777X, which has flown more than 1,300 hours as the planemaker races to certify its new $442 million jet by 2025

Taylor Rains,Pete SymeAug 13, 2023, 19:05 IST

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Boeing's upcoming 777X will be the world's largest twin-engine aircraft when it enters the market.
The company has been conducting test flights for certification thanks to a family of four experimental planes.

Boeing is building the world's largest two-engine airliner, but it's been a long and difficult road.

In November 2013, the American planemaker announced a brand new commercial jet — the Boeing 777X, which has been broken down into two variants including the 777-8 and the 777-9.

The company also has a freighter option — the 777-8F — that is expected to enter service with Qatar Airways in 2027.

Boeing plans to launch the commercial side first with the 777-9 entering the market in 2025. Emirates will be the launch customer, though the expected timeline has already been delayed from its original 2020 entry.

Challenges surrounding the 737 MAX crashes, the pandemic, and the supply chain have contributed to the slowdown.

Boeing estimates it'll have over $1 billion in abnormal production expenses. And, the manufacturer has faced backlash from airlines — particularly Emirates — for the delays.

Nevertheless, with over 350 orders for the plane, Boeing is standing by the program. It showed off its giant 777X testbed at the Paris Air Show in June — take a look.

Known as Flight Test 1, the 777-9 is one of four 777X test aircraft in Boeing's fleet.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Boeing builds experimental aircraft to test the limits of the jet and collect data on new technologies — particularly the 777X's folding wingtips.

Boeing 777X flying display at the Farnborough International Air Show 2022.Taylor Rains/Insider

The revolutionary folding mechanism — which is a first in the industry — was introduced to solve the 777X's airport space problem.

Taylor Rains/Insider

When creating the 777X design, Boeing wanted to ensure the bigger airplane could still fit into the 777-designated airport ramp space.

Thiago B Trevisan/Shutterstock

But, at the same time, the jet's total wingspan needed to be longer than old 777 models to meet efficiency goals.

Korean Airlines Boeing 777-300ER.AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images

At over 235 feet long, the wings stretched too wide — so Boeing added a system that folds the wingtips up when parked at the gate.

Boeing 777X parked at Paine Field in Everett, Washington.AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

A Boeing spokesperson told Insider that despite the novelty of the wingtips, they are safe thanks to redundancies built into the jet.

Pete Syme/Insider

Plus, the wingtips are locked in flight and cannot be manipulated once airborne.

Pete Syme/Insider

In addition to the wings, the test aircraft is responsible for evaluating myriad other items, like how the jet performs with heaps of ice on the wing, for example.

Pete Syme/Insider

To conduct these tests under various conditions, engineers have special systems onboard. One is a series of black water tanks that can manipulate the jet's center of gravity.

Pete Syme/Insider

To conduct these tests under various conditions, engineers have special systems onboard. One is a series of black water tanks that can manipulate the jet's center of gravity.

The typical test flight can be around three and a half hours and employees sit at workstations complete with computers and cupholders, according to the Boeing engineer.

Pete Syme/Insider

Though, timing can depend on the day's plan and weather conditions.

Coasters and autographed newspaper articles related to Boeing planes onboard the 777X testbed.Pete Syme/Insider

He further explained to Insider that engineers couple several tests together for efficiency, and that there are typically 10 to 20 people onboard for each mission.

Taylor Rains/Insider

Also onboard the plane were several rows of cabin seats, as well as a sign that compared the windows to rival Airbus' A350.

Pete Syme/Insider

Visitors also got the rare opportunity to see the skeleton of the jet as its wiring and interior systems were exposed.

Taylor Rains/Insider

As Boeing continues in its quest to deliver the first 777X, it plans to operate proving routes in partnership with Emirates next year.

Pete Syme/Insider

The hope is to demonstrate the efficiencies and reliability of the plane to both regulators and Emirates president Tim Clark, who has been skeptical about the jet's entry date.

Pete Syme/Insider

The hope is to demonstrate the efficiencies and reliability of the plane to both regulators and Emirates president Tim Clark, who has been skeptical about the jet's entry date.

Currently, the Dubai-based airline has 115 Boeing 777X planes on order — down from the 150-strong purchase the company finalized in 2014.

Emirates Boeing 777X rendering.Boeing

In addition to Emirates, several other global airlines also one day hope to own the jet — though none are in the US.

Cathay Pacific 777X rendering.Boeing

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See inside a test Boeing 777X, which has flown more than 1,300 hours as the planemaker races to certify its new $442 million jet by 2025

Known as Flight Test 1, the 777-9 is one of four 777X test aircraft in Boeing's fleet.

Boeing builds experimental aircraft to test the limits of the jet and collect data on new technologies — particularly the 777X's folding wingtips.

The revolutionary folding mechanism — which is a first in the industry — was introduced to solve the 777X's airport space problem.

When creating the 777X design, Boeing wanted to ensure the bigger airplane could still fit into the 777-designated airport ramp space.

But, at the same time, the jet's total wingspan needed to be longer than old 777 models to meet efficiency goals.

At over 235 feet long, the wings stretched too wide — so Boeing added a system that folds the wingtips up when parked at the gate.

A Boeing spokesperson told Insider that despite the novelty of the wingtips, they are safe thanks to redundancies built into the jet.

Plus, the wingtips are locked in flight and cannot be manipulated once airborne.

In addition to the wings, the test aircraft is responsible for evaluating myriad other items, like how the jet performs with heaps of ice on the wing, for example.

To conduct these tests under various conditions, engineers have special systems onboard. One is a series of black water tanks that can manipulate the jet's center of gravity.

The typical test flight can be around three and a half hours and employees sit at workstations complete with computers and cupholders, according to the Boeing engineer.

Though, timing can depend on the day's plan and weather conditions.

He further explained to Insider that engineers couple several tests together for efficiency, and that there are typically 10 to 20 people onboard for each mission.

Also onboard the plane were several rows of cabin seats, as well as a sign that compared the windows to rival Airbus' A350.

Visitors also got the rare opportunity to see the skeleton of the jet as its wiring and interior systems were exposed.

As Boeing continues in its quest to deliver the first 777X, it plans to operate proving routes in partnership with Emirates next year.

The hope is to demonstrate the efficiencies and reliability of the plane to both regulators and Emirates president Tim Clark, who has been skeptical about the jet's entry date.

Currently, the Dubai-based airline has 115 Boeing 777X planes on order — down from the 150-strong purchase the company finalized in 2014.

In addition to Emirates, several other global airlines also one day hope to own the jet — though none are in the US.