Boeing Launches Long-Haul Passenger Jet

[Placebo]

Boeing Co. unveiled a long-range version of its 777 commercial airliner on Tuesday, which the company said can fly from London to Sydney, making it the world's longest-range commercial aircraft.

With the launch of the new 777-200LR (long range) "Worldliner," Boeing is hoping to attract airlines that will ferry passengers directly between multiple points.

The new, 301-passenger, long-range 777 is expected to make its first flight in March and will be delivered first to Pakistan International airlines, its launch customer for the new version of the 777, in January of 2006.

The twin-engine airplane, when equipped with three optional fuel tanks, will be capable of flying 9,420 nautical miles, enough to "connect any two cities in the world today," said Lars Andersen, Boeing's vice president in charge of the 777 program at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

More...

[merwin]

1. holy crap that's a long flight. Think if you had a 9000 mile flight.

[hack89]

2. I flew 16 hours once...

from Australia to LA - I have never been happier to get off a plane!

[Philosophy]

9. I made that flight too

Round trip. Took me two days just to recover each time.

[tx_dem41]

14. It all depends on who you're sitting next to....

I've made that flight twice. Once sitting next to two good-looking women. Funny, that was a pretty nice trip. ;-)

[Placebo]

3. 20 hours...

oy

[whistle]

4. Only two engines....what happens when one engine goes out?

...Besides the U.S. is once again behind the curve on new airliner contracts:

<snip>

Airbus unveils largest commercial jet
A380 able to hold 800 passengers
01/19/05
Associated Press

TOULOUSE, France -- Airbus put its stamp on aviation history Tuesday, unveiling the world's largest commercial jet and raising the stakes in its 35-year rivalry with Boeing Co.

The double-decker A380 "superjumbo," capable of flying up to 800 passengers, gives the European plane maker a new flagship and completes its range of jets at a time when Boeing is losing market share and reducing some production.

French President Jacques Chirac and other European leaders struck a triumphal note at the ceremony, hailing the A380 as a sign of Europe's capacity to generate world-beating industries.

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<link> http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/usworld/8010737.htm

Uses half the fuel, flies twice the passenger load, airline companies profitrs will go up big time.

[Placebo]

5. It's designed with the ability to fly with only one engine.

I really think the fear someone might have about the fact that their plane has 2 engines instead of 4 is mostly in their head and not based on reality. Millions of people fly daily in planes with 2 engines and have no problems.

The A380 is far too big for most company's needs and doesn't have the same range as the 777, you're comparing apples and oranges here.

[RobertSeattle]

8. Yep, more chance of failure with 4 enginess than 2

It took a long time for that to sink into the engineer world, but it is true. Good old data/statistics triumphs.

[mhr]

17. Plus The Airbus Can Land At Fewer Airports Limiting Its Appeal To Carriers

eom

[medeak]

6. engine went out last weekend on takeoff

on 737 I was on...so much drama...you are correct!

Nothing you can do but land at the crash site.
10 more seconds and we would have been airborne and dead.

edited to say we still haven't recovered and drinking cadillac margaritas still. Plane is still sitting on tarmac with engine pulled.

Mother owns twin engine plane and I know how close we came.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. Not so.

A two-engine jet airplane like a 737 can take off and climb quite nicely on one engine -- in fact, the FAA won't certify them if they can't. If an engine fails before a certain speed (called V-1) the pilot will usually just abort the takeoff. If the engine fails after V-1, they will continue the takeoff (because they are going too fast to stop safely), then fly back around to the runway and land. Pilots have to practice this all the time in simulators, and it's really not very difficult to handle, or even that big a deal. A small twin-engine prop plane is totally different -- they have much, much less power and they are not even required to be able to take off and climb on one engine. If you are in a transport-category jet, however, the loss of an engine, even on takeoff, is not anywhere near a fatal event.

[medeak]

23. beg to disagree

just looking at pilot's faces with blood drained. Thanked them for stopping and they said "HELL YES!" But hell you may be right...and YOU go up in that plane!

edited to say that same plane had engine failure two weeks ago and made emergency landing. There's no way I'm getting back on damn charter plane (we only have two jets in my small town)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

25. And I beg to disagree, again.

That particular plane might be a piece of crap. But as one professionally employed in the biz, I KNOW for a fact that a two-engine jet will take off and fly with no difficulty on one engine.

[medeak]

26. same jet Dean chartered for campaign

am grateful he came out unscathed

[hack89]

12. From a Boeing press release:

"The latest model of the Boeing 777 has flown for 5 1/2 hours over the Pacific Ocean on one engine, a record for single-engine certification testing, the company has announced."

[fortyfeetunder]

19. 777 is good design

One person discussed ETOPS already but you'd have to google to find any ETOPS event over water, where it had to fly on one engine. I don't recall any for this aircraft.

[ArchTeryx]

7. Ooooh.

That is a rather funky-looking plane. First two-rudder plane I've seen in a LONG time. Wonder if it's to add stability?

One of these days, hopefully, there'll be a FS2004 version of it. I'd love to give it a spin myself. :)

[Philosophy]

10. I think that's just a reflection in the window

I'm pretty sure it only has one rudder.

[ArchTeryx]

18. Oh, poopies.

Looks like you're right, on closer examination. I *have* seen proposals on the table for modern two-rudder planes, and thought this was one of them!

Wonder what changes they made to the design, other then the fuel tanks, to give it the expanded range?

[Cannikin]

13. Here ya go...

ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operation Performance Standards) is an acronym for an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rule permitting newer twin-engined commercial air transports to fly routes that, at some points, are further than a distance of 60 minutes flying time from an emergency or diversion airport. This definition allows twin-engined airliners—like Boeing 757, 767, 777 and Airbus A300, A320 series, A330—to fly long distance routes (especially over water, desert or remote polar areas) that were previously off-limits to twin-engined aircraft. ETOPS is sometimes read (humorously) as Engines Turn or Passengers Swim. ETOPS may be replaced by a newer system, referred to as LROPS, or Long Range Operational Performance Standards, which will affect all aircraft, not merely those with a twin-engine configuration.


Not to mention, these guys wouldnt be commercial pilots without the ability to fly in an engine-out situation. So lay your fears to rest.

[Buck Turgidson]

22. There is actually a THIRD jet engine...

It's a smaller one hidden in the tail of the airplane. Normally, the pilot runs it to generate electricity while on the ground.

However, part of the ETOPS procedure uses the the third engine if one of the main engines fails in flight. Apparently, it is kinda tricky to light off a jet engine at 40,000 ft.

[Zech Marquis]

15. nonstop? no way I'd need to stop somewhere, at least once

especially if they choose to stuff you in those sardine can seats :hurts: I'd need some legroom, space to walk around, and not feel like a modern day version of King Tut being buried in a tin can at 30,000 feet!

[Jonathan_Hoag]

16. That is great ...

They are moving in the same direction with the 7E7, by the way. If you increase the number of direct flights possible you can shave more time off your trip than by simply increasing plane's speed.

[donheld]

20. Also please welcome the 787

Boeing Gives the 7E7 Dreamliner a Model Designation

SEATTLE, Jan. 28, 2005 -- The Boeing Company today gave Boeing Commercial Airplane's newest airplane – the 7E7 Dreamliner – a model designation number of 787. The airplane now will be known as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.


http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2005/q1/nr_050128g.html

[Placebo]

21. that plane is going to be B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

most gorgeous bird in the sky, IMHO

[despairing optimist]

24. How long does it take the toothpaste inside to ferment?