Boeing installed the GE9X engine, manufactured by GE Aviation, on the first prototype flight of the 777X project.
The two GE9X engines were installed on the test aircraft, which will fly for the first time this year, probably in the first quarter. GE points out that this is the largest turbofan produced and in operation in the world, with about 3,4 meters in diameter at the front.
Despite being the largest in diameter, the GE9X is not the most powerful, as it continues with the GE-90-115B, which has 115 lbs of thrust, while the GE9X provides 105 lbs of thrust.
Among the standout features of the new engine is the front fan, made with a new generation of composite materials, a new TAPS III combustion chamber, better than that used in GEnx engines, and CMC materials in the turbine and combustion area.
Meanwhile, GE continues with the GE9X flight tests, using a Boeing 747-400. GE claims that more than half of the GE9X certification schedule has been completed, and that by mid-2019 the FAA (Federal Aviation istration) should issue the engine certificate.
The manufacturer still needs to do more severe tests, such as ingestion of birds and hail in flight and operational resistance (overloading the cycle engine).
Assembly of the major structural components of the 777-9X was carried out in Everett, Washington, at the same production site as the current 777. Much of the production system had to be modified due to new production tooling and components produced with greater quantities of composite material.
Altogether, the fuselage of the new 777-9X is approximately 77 meters long, making it the longest enger jet ever produced by Boeing.
Boeing said the plane offers 12% less fuel consumption and 10% lower operating costs than competing planes.
The first flight of this 777X is scheduled for 2019. And the first delivery of a serial aircraft is scheduled for 2020.
debut customer
Emirates has established itself as the launch customer of the Boeing 777-9X, the new generation of the American manufacturer's renowned wide-body. Previously, the company that committed to launching this aircraft was Lufthansa, which intends to replace its older 747s with the new generation of the largest single-deck wide-body in the world.
In addition to being the launch customer, Emirates stands out for having the largest order for the 777X family, with 150 aircraft ordered, 115 of which are the 777-9X model. This means almost half of the orders received by Boeing to date for the 777X family.
Boeing 777X
The Boeing 777X has two aircraft options, the 777-8X is capable of receiving 350 seats in a standard two-class configuration, its range is up to 15000km. The 777-9X, the largest variant of the T7 family to date, will be able to accommodate 450 engers in a two-class configuration, with a flight range of 13200 km.
The new plane includes a combination of “many 777 and 787 heritages,” Beezhold said. “We made the fuselage wider than the -300ER, for more comfortable seats and rows of up to 10 seats.”
The new 777X will require less thrust than the -300ER because it will have a more efficient wing. And that wing is quite long – the 777X's wingspan will top out at 235' 5″ (71,8 meters). Wider than standard airport gates, the plane will have a folding wing to reduce the span to 212,7” (67,7 meters) when on the ground.
Beezhold explained that Boeing developed a folding wing for the original 777, but it proved to be an overly complicated design as the folding part included an aileron, so it was shelved in favor of a traditional wing.
The 777X has a “very simple folding wing – the frame driver is completely inside the wing,” Beezhold said, adding that airlines wanted a design that required little or no specialist maintenance.
The 777-8X competes directly with the Airbus A350-1000, while the 777-9X stands alone in its aircraft class, and will address a need for greater economy without losing carrying capacity. To date, the 777X has accumulated 320 firm orders and commitments from six customers worldwide. The first delivery is scheduled for 2020.
