Boeing Unveils 777-200LR Worldliner -- Longest Range Commercial Jetliner

Boeing.com ^ | Feb. 15, 2005 | Staff

[Paleo Conservative]

EVERETT, Wash., Feb. 15, 2005 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today unveiled the first 777-200LR Worldliner -- the world's longest range commercial airplane -- at a celebration attended by more than 5,000 employees, airline representatives, suppliers, and government and community leaders.

"This amazing airplane will connect virtually any two cities in the world with nonstop service," said Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 777-200LR Worldliner is the latest innovation in our highly successful 777 airplane family. The 777 family consists of five passenger models and a freighter version in development that safely and efficiently serve the needs of our customers, while providing passengers and cargo operators with more of what they want -- affordable, comfortable, nonstop flights to the destinations of their choice."

Extending the range of the market-leading 777 family by more than 1,500 nautical miles (2,775 kilometers), the 777-200LR (Longer Range) allows airlines to service nonstop routes such as New York-Singapore and Los Angeles-Dubai at full passenger capacity and carry revenue cargo. The 777-200LR can carry 301 passengers up to 9,420 nautical miles (17,446 kilometers).

The 777-200LR Worldliner is the first Boeing airplane entirely painted in the company's striking blue livery introduced last year. The airplane's unveiling at today's ceremony also revealed its new name: Worldliner, which highlights its revolutionary capabilities to connect cities around the world.

"The 777-200LR Worldliner will enable our customers to open new nonstop routes and explore new markets that once could only be accomplished with one or two stops," said Lars Andersen, vice president -- program manager, 777 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

With first flight scheduled for early March, flight-test employees are putting final touches on the systems they will use to monitor and evaluate the airplane. The seven-month flight-test program will include approximately 300 hours of ground and 500 hours of flight testing.

The 777-200LR and the 777-300ER (Extended Range) were launched in February 2000 by Boeing and GE Aircraft Engines in response to airlines that wanted new airplanes with additional flexibility to serve the nonstop routes passengers demand.

The first 777-200LR Worldliner is to be delivered to Pakistan International Airlines in January 2006. EVA Airways is also a launch customer.

The 777-200LR will also serve as the platform for the Boeing 777 Freighter, the world's largest, most capable twin-engine freighter. Authority to offer the 777 Freighter was announced in November.

The 777 family has captured over 60 percent of the market since the airplane's October 1990 launch. More than 38 customers worldwide have ordered more than 675 777s, including 104 Longer-Range 777s (777-300ERs and 777-200LRs). So far, two customers have ordered five 777-200LRs.

[Lx]

Cox 049...

[Cannon6]

Flew from Dullas to Inchon, Korea. Fourteen hours non-stop.
Did a lot of walking around!

[Paleo Conservative]

Here is a thread based on the Reuters story about the 777-200LR launch.

Boeing Launches Long-Haul Passenger Jet

[Paleo Conservative]

Flew from Dullas to Inchon, Korea. Fourteen hours non-stop. Did a lot of walking around!

Supposedly this plane will be able to fly from DFW to Sydney non-stop.

[Paleo Conservative]

It's rated for 207 minutes of ETOPS operation.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Yes, it can, those planes ( the 777 ) are designed to fly even with ONE operable engine , and designed to fly with one operable engine for 3 hours.
The 777 has the worlds most largest and powerful engines of any jetliner in the world.
Just one engine on the 777 has more thrust than ALL 8 engines on the B - 52 bomber.

[nightdriver]

"The 777-200LR and the 777-300ER (Extended Range) were launched in February 2000 by Boeing and GE Aircraft Engines in response to airlines that wanted new airplanes with additional flexibility to serve the nonstop routes passengers demand."

It's the GE engines that I never trusted. Some early 777s had problems with the GE engines. Boeing's response to the airline? "Hey, we build the airplanes, you picked these GE engines."

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

It's the GE engines that I never trusted.

I'll second that. Give me P&W or Rolls Royce any day.

[Paleo Conservative]

It's the GE engines that I never trusted. Some early 777s had problems with the GE engines.

But the GE engines were an entirely new design while the PW and RR engines were suped up derivatives of engines used in 747s. New engines sometimes have teething problems. Rolls Royce had lots of problems with the RB211 engines used in the Lockheed Tristar, but that family of engines is the basis for the Rolls Royce engine used on the 777-200.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

Yes, that is impressive for range of any jet liner.
Almost can fly half way around the world ( without ) a refuel ( non stop ).
Lets hope Boeing has a few tricks up it's selves and makes the new 747 - Advanced ( 747 - 500 series ) ( if they decide to go ahead with the 747 - Advanced program ) just as impressive as this plane is.
Boeing 777 LR 9,500 miles wow ,,,, take that Airbus !
The A-380 is way OVER WEIGHT ( MTOW ) , and will be a FUEL HUG , and OVER budget.
In a year or 2 , we can expect to see this plane ( the 777 LR ) have a range of 10,000 NMs .

[kayak]

ping

[Paleo Conservative]

Yes, it can, those planes ( the 777 ) are designed to fly even with ONE operable engine , and designed to fly with one operable engine for 3 hours. The 777 has the worlds most largest and powerful engines of any jetliner in the world. Just one engine on the 777 has more thrust than ALL 8 engines on the B - 52 bomber.

Actually the ETOPS has been increased 15% for this model. It will be rated for 207 minutes. The reason for such powerful engines is that the remaining engines must be powerful enough to allow the plane to take off if one engine shut off during takeoff. Since there are only two engines, one engine has to be powerful enough to let the aircraft takeoff. Because or this, twin engined planes have more excess power than three or four engined planes in regular operation. This lets them climb to cruising altitude faster and allow quieter operation near airports.

[AggieCPA]

Oh, dear God, I couldn't stand being on a plane that long - even in first class.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

I agree,,, the seat choice and over head compartments are ordered by the AIRLINE, not BOEING.
Boeing only puts their Standard seat and over head compartments in if the customer wants them, if they are a UPGRADE they have to pay for it.
I was reading the history of PAN AM , with the development of the 747 in 1970.
It was PAM AM's responsibility for the in flight entertainment systems that they had on their early 747- 100 planes ( not BOEINGS responsibility ) and I read that they always had problems with those in flight entertainment systems ( movie screens and sound systems ).
Either the entertainment systems worked ( worked like crap ) or didn't work at all.
Is there anyone here who remembers the early days of the 747 with PAN AM , and the problems with the in flight entertainment systems not working ?

[freedumb2003]

The A-380 is way OVER WEIGHT ( MTOW ) , and will be a FUEL HUG , and OVER budget.

When you are as heavily subsidized as the A380, economic considerations are secondary (or tertiary).

I suspect the A380 will be mothballed inside of 5 years.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

GE , ROLLS ROYCE, and P & W

[Prophet in the wilderness]

It has a requirement by the FAA , to be able to fly at least 3 hours on one engine, and be able to fly safely to the nearest airport in case of a engine failure. The 777 was designed to fly even on one engine. One engine alone on the 777 has more thrust than ALL ! eight engines on the B - 52 .

[Prophet in the wilderness]

By the way ? those engines don't come with the airplane contract. Those engines are ( LEASED ) to the airlines.
Boeing does not buy those engines, and then, put them on the planes.
Boeing only sells the planes to the customer, and the customer has the resposioblity to seek a engine suppler for their planes.
So the airplane contract is separate from the engine manufacture contract.

[Paleo Conservative]

One engine alone on the 777 has more thrust than ALL ! eight engines on the B - 52.

Which model? The B-52H which is the only model still in service has eight RF-33 turbofan engines that are rated at 17,000 pounds of thrust. That's a total of 136,000 pounds of thrust. The GE90-110B1 in the 777-200LR is rated at 110,100 pounds, and the GE90-115B in the 777-300ER is rated at 115,300 pounds

777-200LR and 777-300ER technical specifications.

[RayChuang88]

This, folks, is the plane that will finally make the last major hurdle in long-range commercial aviation--non-stop flying between London and Sydney--possible.

But I wonder would passengers--even if they have roomier seating than normal--willing to be cooped up for what amounts to 17-19 hours of flying between these two cities?