Boeing's enormous new 777X jet just took its first flight — take a look back at the history of the company's largest twin-jet airplanes
Boeing
The Boeing 777 is one of the most successful and revolutionary airplanes in aviation history.
The 777 helped usher in the era of the modern twin-engine, widebody airliner that effectively rendered four-engined jumbos like the Boeing 747 obsolete.
It's still being produced today with new next-generation variants taking to the skies.
Boeing has taken more than 2,000 orders for the 777, making it the best selling widebody airliner in aviation history.
Boeing's newest passenger plane, the Boeing 777X, flew its first flight on Saturday, marking a milestone for Boeing and its 777 product line.
Twenty-five years prior, however, the first Boeing 777 airliner made its first flight in June 1994— kicking off a career that would revolutionize the airline industry.
In the two decades since its first flight, the 777 has become the trusty long-haul workhorse for the world's international airlines.
In the early days of jet-powered commercial flight, traditional thinking dictated that there is safety in numbers. As a result, long-haul flying was dominated by three and four-engine jetliners.
With modern airframes and turbofan engines becoming exponentially more reliable, US and international regulators relaxed rules that limited the routes twin-engine airliners could fly. These rules changes have helped smaller, twin-engine jetliners such as the Boeing 777, 767, 787 as well as the Airbus A330 and A350 become the airplanes of choice for airlines around the world. In the process, the Boeing 777 helped render the jumbos like the iconic 747 obsolete.
In January 2019, FlightGlobal reported that Boeing had reached 2,000 777 orders — making it the best-selling widebody jetliner in aviation history. It's also the second best selling airliner in Boeing history behind only the 737.
With the newest variation of the aircraft starting to take to the skies, let's take a look back into the 30-year history of the Boeing 777.
Benjamin Zhang contributed to an earlier version of this article.
The Boeing 777's journey began in October 1990 with an order from United Airlines for a twin-engine widebody airliner larger than Boeing's 767...
APBut smaller than the iconic 747 jumbo jet.
Yichuan Cao/NurPhoto/GettyLeading the 777 program was its general manager Alan Mulally. In 2006, Mulally left Boeing to become CEO of the Ford Motor Company.
Andrew Burton/GettyDuring his eight years in charge of Ford, Mulally successfully guided the company through the dark days of the financial crisis without the need for a government bailout. The former 777 project manager is generally considered the best CEO in Ford history not named Henry Ford.
Alex Davies / Business InsiderFrom the start, Boeing knew the 777 would be special. It was the first airliner to be designed completely using a computer.
Reuters/StringerUsing 3D computer graphics, Boeing was able to digitally pre-assemble the 777, foregoing the need for costly and time-consuming clay models.
Reuters/StringerTo produce the 777, Boeing selected its Everett, Washington production facility.
APEven though the 777-200 is smaller than the 747, it is still a massive airplane at 209 feet long with a 191-foot wingspan. The airplane weighs 506,000 lbs.
APThe jet's high bypass turbofan engines built by Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and GE are the largest engines ever installed on an airliner.
REUTERS/Andy ClarkHere is one of the 777's signature triple axle main landing gears.
REUTERS/Andy ClarkThe 777-200 featured a state-of-the-art two-person digital cockpit.
APIn the forward cabins, passengers are treated to lie-flat seating.
APIn the back, passengers are treated to a more comfortable and quiet ride with greater in-flight entertainment options.
APOn June 12, 1994, all of Boeing's hard work came to fruition with the first flight of the Boeing 777-200.
APThe resulting aircraft could carry 305 to 440 passengers up to 8,270 miles. The -200 could cruise at 615 mph and fly at 37,900 ft.
Reuters/StringerIn June 1995, the 777-200 entered service with United Airlines marking the start of the plane's game-changing career.
APTraditionally, the prevailing logic in long haul flying has been that there's safety in the number of engines a plane has. As a result, planes such as the four-engined Boeing 707,...
BoeingDouglas DC-8...
APAnd, later, the Boeing 747 all had four engines. If one engine fails, there are three more to keep the plane in the air.
APAs turbofan technology improved, smaller three-engine airliners such as the McDonnell-Douglas DC-10...
APAnd the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar came en vogue.
APDuring that same period, early twin-engine wide-body jets such as the Airbus A300B2 were relegated to medium-haul routes.
AirbusIn 1985, the FAA softened its restrictions on the overwater routes twin-engine jets, allowing the 767 to operate routes with up to 120 minutes of single-engine flying time away from the nearest airport, opening up many new routes opportunities.
REUTERS/Arnd WiegmannWith the 777, Boeing was able to convince the government to give the plane an ETOPS 180 rating.
Reuters/StringerThe rule change rendered modern three-engine airliners like the McDonnell-Douglas MD-11 obsolete overnight as they carry less than four-engine jets and were less efficient than twin-jets.
Ilya Naymushin/ReutersAlong with the twin-engine Airbus A330, the Boeing 777 has decimated four-engine passenger jet sales.
APEven the record-breaking Airbus A380 superjumbo ...
REUTERS/Pascal RossignolAnd the state-of-the-art Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental could not stop the success of the 777. Both have severely reduced their production rates to buy their sales teams more time to generate orders.
BoeingIn 1996, Boeing rolled out a more potent version of the 777 with an even greater range called the 777-200IGW. It would later be renamed the 777-200ER for extended range.
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty ImagesIn 1998, Boeing's stretched the 777 to create the 550-seat 777-300.
APIn 2002, Boeing really hit the sweet spot with the extended range version of the -300 called the 777-300ER. With more than 800 sold, the -300ER is by far the most popular version of the 777.
APIn 2006, Boeing introduced ultra-long-range 777-200LR.
APAlso known as the WorldLiner, the 200LR can carry 301 passengers nearly 11,000 miles.
APToday, the Boeing 777 is one of the most popular long-haul airliners in the world. It's in service with many of the world's most prominent airlines including American,...
Nicolas Economou/SOPA Images/LightRocket/GettyDelta...
APUnited...
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/GettySingapore...
Singapore AirlinesQatar...
Qatar AirwaysAir France...
Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesAir China...
BoeingAir Canada...
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/GettyAir New Zealand...
Air New ZealandAnd Turkish Airlines.
BoeingHowever, the 777 has no greater customer than Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. In 1996, the Sheikh's small Dubai-based airline received its first 777-200.
Reuters/StringerOver the next two decades, Emirates would become a global aviation powerhouse. In the process, the airline would operate a fleet of more than 120 777s — the largest in the world.
APIn fact, Emirates has accounted for roughly 15% of all 777s ever sold.
REUTERS/Jumana El HelouehAfter more than two decades of service under its belt, the 777 received a major makeover with the 777X.
BoeingThe new aircraft sees Boeing applying the lessons it learned from its first next-generation offering, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Randall Hill/ReutersProduction started on the aircraft in 2017 in Everett, Washington, at the same facility where work began on the first 777 in the early 1990s.
Stephen Brashear/GettyWhile Boeing offers two variants of next-generation 777X aircraft, it started on the larger one first, the 777-9.
Stephen Brashear/GettyThe -9 aircraft will be the largest twin-engine aircraft to roam the skies.
JASON REDMOND/AFP/GettyIts wingspan is almost as wide as the aircraft is long with wingtip to wingtip spanning 212 feet and 8 inches.
JASON REDMOND/AFP/GettyIts wings are so long that it wouldn't have been able to fit at most airports were it not for a unique feature never before seen on a passenger jet...
LINDSEY WASSON/ReutersRetractable wingtips.
JASON REDMOND/AFP/GettyThe wingtips are kept retracted when on the ground and then a switch is activated just before take-off, allowing the aircraft to stretch its wings and take flight.
LINDSEY WASSON/ReutersMassive General Electric GE9X engines power the bird and help make it more fuel-efficient and quieter compared to current generation variants.
JASON REDMOND/AFP/GettyThe larger -9 variant will be able to hold more passengers than the current longest 777, the 777-300ER.
ReutersThe cabins will feature larger windows, more natural light, lower volumes, and more space.
Stephen Brashear/Getty ImagesThe new aircraft first flew on January 25 following a one-day delay due to weather.
Stephen Brashear/GettyThe flight signified the first step in Boeing's redemption following troubles with the 737 Max aircraft.
Associated PressUnsurprisingly, Emirates Airline, a big fan of the Boeing 777-300ER, is scheduled to be the first operator.
ReutersThe first airlines to carry on the 777 legacy will be Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways, All Nippon Airways, Etihad Airways, and Cathay Pacific.
Stephen Brashear/GettyAnd once the -9 gets settled in, Boeing will start production on the -8, carrying on the aircraft family for years to come.
JASON REDMOND/AFP/Getty
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