A Boeing wide-body airplane is a rare sight at the Paris show,
unless you count the traffic out of Charles de Gaulle, but the
company is bringing the first example of its new 777-300ER to
the show. The new heavyweight, large-capacity version of the 777
family made its first flight on February 24, and the first delivery
is due in April 2004, to Air France.
Development of the shorter-bodied, ultra-long-range 777-200LR
resumed in March after a 15-month hiatus. The first aircraft is
now due to be rolled out in January 2005 for first deliveries
a year later.
The new 777 was originally scheduled to enter service in the last
quarter of this year, but customers requested delivery delays
after 9/11. The new schedule has allowed Boeing to plan flight-testing
around two airplanes instead of three. The second airplane flew
in early April and the 1,600-hour flight-test program, headquartered
at Edwards AFB, California is now well under way.
Planned tests include four missions in which the new 777 will
be flown for 330 minutes with one engine out, paving the way for
operators to seek extended-range twin-engine operations (ETOPS)
clearances long enough "to cover any practical route in the
world," according to Boeing. Specific changes to gain the
higher limit include an increase in fire-suppression capability.
Current 777s operate with a standard 180-minute ETOPS limit, which
can be extended by 15% on a case-by-case basis. It is adequate
for most routes, but may be limiting if diversion airfields are
closed due to weather, says Boeing. The new 777's closest rival,
the A340-500/600, has four engines and is unaffected by ETOPS.
Another new feature to be tested is the tail strike protection
(TSP) system. The 777-300ER rotates to a higher angle than the
equally long but lighter 777-300, and an over-enthusiastic pull
on the yoke under certain circumstances could bounce the airplane's
rear end off the concrete. The TSP monitors pitch rate and attitude
and limits elevator inputs accordingly, although the pilot can
pull through the limit if he insists on damaging the airplane.
Boeing has just delivered the first 777 fitted with overhead crew
rest areas, a feature that has been selected by all the customers
for the new longer-range aircraft and is also offered on the 777-200ER.
The forward flight-crew rest area accommodates two business-class
seats, two bunks and an optional lavatory, while cabin-crew rest
areas can accommodate six to ten bunks.
