Boeing 777 'Triple Seven'
The Boeing 777 'Triple Seven' is the largest twin-engined airliner in the world. It flies 300 to 400 passengers over medium to ultra-long distances.
Boeing started the development of the 777 in the late 1980s as a stretched version of the 767 with the intention to fill the capacity-'gap' between the 767-300 and the 747-400. The new version was provisionally designated 767-X, but later Boeing switched to an all-new design with a wider fuselage and larger capacity. The first Boeing 777 made its maiden flight on June 12 1994. Boeing delivered the first production aircraft to United Airlines in May 1995 and the airline introduced it on its Washington Dulles - London Heathrow route on June 7 1995.
The Boeing 777 was the first airliner completely designed with a computer aided design (CAD) system. This system eliminates the need to build expensive full-size mock-ups of the aircraft, which were usually made to prevent the misfits of parts in the development phase. The computer also has a major role in the cockpit, which was designed for two-man operation and features six liquid crystal displays (LCDs) to present flight data to the crew. The 777 was also the first Boeing aircraft with a full fly-by-wire control system. The airframe consists of 10 percent composite materials (by weight).
 Boeing offered the 777 with engine options from all three major turbofan manufacturers: the Pratt and Whitney PW4084, the Rolls Royce Trent 895 and the General Electric GE90. In May 1995 the Federal Aviation Administration granted the 777 full 180 minutes ETOPS (Extended-Range Twin-Engine Operations) clearance to allow the aircraft to fly relatively long over-water sectors. Initially Boeing developed two versions of the 777: the standard 777-200 and the 777-200IGW (Increased Gross Weight - later renamed 777-200ER) with higher weights and extended range. The first flight of the 777-200ER was on October 7 1996 and British Airways became the first user of this version in 1997.
The Boeing 777-200LR (Longer Range), named 'Worldliner', has an even much more extended range and higher take-off weights. This version can stay up to 18 hours in the air and with a range of 17,500 km (9,450 nm) the 777-200LR is the world's airliner with the 'longest legs'. The Worldliner made its maiden flight on March 8 2005. The first 777-200LR was delivered to PIA Pakistan International Airlines in February 2006. A Worldliner performed a world record flight for distance traveled nonstop by a commercial airliner on November 9 and 10 2005 from Hong Kong to London Heathrow over 11,664 nautical miles (21,601 km). The flight lasted 22 hours and 42 minutes and that is more than halfway around the world.
 A 10.13m (33ft 3in) stretched version is the 777-300, which is intended as a replacement for early generation Boeing 747 aircraft, offering almost the same passenger capacity and range but much lower fuel burn and lower maintenance costs. The 777-300 can seat up to 550 passengers in a high-density cabin layout. Other differences compared to the 777-200 are a strengthened undercarriage, airframe and inboard wing. Boeing also added a tailskid to prevent tail-strikes on take-off and landing, and mounted ground manoeuvring cameras on the horizontal tail and underneath the forward fuselage. Further changes were kept to a minimum for the sake of commonality with the 777-200.
The first flight of the 300 was on October 16 1997.The type was simultaneously certificated by the US FAA and the European JAA and the first Boeing 777-300 was delivered to Cathay Pacific in May 1998. Boeing also developed an extended-range version, the 777-300ER, which first flew on February 24 2003 and of which Air France became the first user.
 A freighter version, the 777F, is under development. This 777F is based on the 777-200LR airframe and it is due to enter service with launch customer Air France in late 2008. A proposed shortened 777-100 and a midsize 777-250 were never built. In early 2008 Boeing had sold more than one thousand 777s.
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Boeing 777-200ER - Specifications
Wingspan: 60.93 m (119ft 11in). Length: 63.73 m (209ft 1in). Height: 18.51 m (60ft 9in).
Empty weight: 142,900 kg (315,000 lb). Max. take-off weight: 297,550 kg (656,000 lb).
Accommodation: 301-440 passengers.
Range: 14.260 km (7,700 nm). Operating speed: Mach 0.84 (905 km/h, 490 kts).
Engines: P&W PW4090 (400 kN - 90,100 lb) or RR Trent 895 (420 kN - 95,000 lb),
or GE GE90-94B (410 kN - 94,000 lb).
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Boeing 777-300ER - Specifications
Wingspan: 64.8 m (212ft 7in). Length: 73.86 m (242ft 4in). Height: 18.70 m (61ft 5in).
Empty weight: 166,881 kg (366,940 lb). Max. take-off weight: 357,534 kg (775,000 lb).
Accommodation: 365 passengers (3-class).
Range: 14,685 km (7,930 nm). Operating speed: Mach 0.84 (905 km/h, 490 kts).
Engines: GE GE90-115B (512 kN - 115,300 lb).
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