Design your own B777X aircraft
The Boeing 777X is the latest iteration of the tremendously popular B777 family.
Introduced in June 1995, the Boeing 777 has become the world’s most popular wide-body airliner – with more than 60 global customers and over 2,000 orders placed.
History of the 777
The 777 was originally announced in 1978 as a tri-jet to compete with the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar aircraft. Boeing also announced the mid-size 757 and 767 at the same time.
The 757 and 767 were launched in 1981 and were met with a positive market response, largely thanks to the extended-range twin-engine operational performance standards (ETOPS) introduced in the 1980s. Boeing dropped the tri-jet 777 concept following studies that revealed a market preference for the 757 and 767.
The ETOPS regulations allowed for twin-jet aircraft to make transoceanic crossings with up to three hours’ distance from emergency diversionary airports, following stringent requirements. These regulations opened up significant route potential, and airlines began operating twin-jets on transoceanic flights.
With the 757 and 767 in operation, Boeing was left with a capacity and range gap between the 767-200ER and the 747-400.
In 1986, following pressure on manufacturers to fill the looming gap created by the nearing retirement of the DC-10 and L1011, and to fill its own product gap, Boeing proposed a 767-X which would boast a longer fuselage and wider wings on the existing 767 flight deck.
However, customers were not interested in the 767-X proposal as it didn’t fit their increasingly specific requirements for large aircraft – the requirements made even more specific thanks to the increased manufacturing competition.
Customers wanted an aircraft that and a wider fuselage, short-to-international range capability, flexible interior configurations, and a low operating cost.
In 1988 Boeing designed the 777 twin-jet. The twin-engine configuration was opted for, given market response to the 757 and 767, advancements in engine development and, importantly, reduced operating costs. In 1989, Boeing issued the first offers to airlines for its new 777 aircraft.
777X and beyond
With its first flight expected in 2020 and a planned commercial rollout from 2021, the 777X (Boeing’s naming category for the -8 and -9 versions of the 777) will see improvements on cabin width, seating capacity and fuel economy that were first introduced on the 787 Dreamliner.
Over the years Chapman Freeborn has performed thousands of charter flights onboard B777s, and we’re excited to see the 777X on the charter market – no doubt it will be a popular choice for many of our airline leasing customers and MICE clients.
Design your own 777X
To celebrate the upcoming release of the 777X, Boeing has invited visitors to design their concepts for the 777X fuselage and we’re having way too much fun creating our own.
Test your creativity and have a go at designing your own 777X here – and don’t forget to share your designs with us on social media!
