At the Dubai Airshow early Sunday morning, Boeing officially announced the 777X. With orders from the three major Middle Eastern 
airlines, along with a previously announced commitment from Lufthansa, the type quickly became the fastest-selling widebody aircraft in history. Etihad Airways started the party off with an order for 25 of the new 777Xs, with a mix of 17 of the 777-9X and 8 of the 777-8X. That announcement was quickly followed by another featuring both Qatar Airways and Emirates. Qatar ordered 50 aircraft, all of the 777-9x variety. However, that order paled in comparison to a massive 150-airplane order from Emirates. That carrier, known for their history of massive airplane orders, opted for 35 of the smaller 777-8X and 115 of the larger 777-9X. These orders are in addition to a committment for 34 of the 777-9x model by German carrier Lufthansa in late September.
The 777X program marks another major endeavor for the Renton, WA based Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Building upon the success of both the 777 and 787 models, the 777X aims to increase capacity and improve efficiency through the use of new engines and wings. Also planned are other improvements which are more focused on the passenger experience. These include a slightly wider cabin interior and larger windows. For engines, the 777X will utilize General Electric’s GE9X, a successor to the GE90 that is currently used to power all 777-200LR and -300ER aircraft. The new engine, currently in development and with specifications subject to change, will feature a thrust rating of 105,000 pounds and a fan diameter of a whopping 132 inches. 
However it is the newly designed wing that is likely to be the most noteworthy addition to the 777X. This carbon fiber composite wing, derived from that of the 787, will be Boeing’s widest ever with a span of 233 feet 3 inches for both variants. In order to allow an aircraft with such a wide wingspan to use existing airport facilities, the outer 8 feet of each wing will fold upwards, reducing the wingspan while on the ground to just 212 feet 8 inches.
Through the use of these new wing and engine technologies, Boeing seeks to build upon the success of the current generation 777s. The 777-8X will combine the ultra long range of the 777-200LR with the capacity of the wildly popular 777-300ER. It will compete most closely with the Airbus A350-1000XWB. The 777-9X adds capacity and range beyond that currently offered by the 777-300ER. Its closest competitor in terms of range and capacity will be its stablemate, the 747-8i. The 777-9X will also join the 747-8 series as the longest commercial aircraft at 250 feet 2 inches. Boeing plans to begin production of the 777-9X in 2017, with it entering service by the end of 2020. the 777-8X is expected to arrive 18 months after its larger sibling.
Ben Granucci, Contributing Editor, is an aviation enthusiast and planespotter based in New York City. Growing up in Connecticut, he has had his eyes toward the sky for as long as he can remember. He can be reached on Twitter at @BLGranucci or through his blog at Landing-Lights.com
About the Author
