Test Equipment Snag Hinders Planned Circuit

The first Boeing 777 Freighter successfully took to the sky Monday morning for the first time, and completed an initial series of tests during a flight lasting more than three-and-a-half hours. Boeing says airplane performed well; the testing equipment... not so much.

The newest member of the 777 airplane family took off at 10:00 am PDT from Paine Field in Everett, WA. "The 777 Freighter completed the scheduled three-hour inaugural flight with no airplane performance-related issues," said Dennis O'Donoghue, vice president of Flight Operations, Test & Validation.

"The only issue was a data-communication problem between the airplane and the telemetry room at Boeing Field," which prevented the plane from landing at BFI due to FAA regulations.

Instead, the plane returned to Paine Field, landing at 1:38 pm. Boeing says it will identify and fix the problem to resume the flight test program as soon as possible.

During Monday's flight, 777 Chief Pilot Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann and 777 Deputy Chief Pilot Van Chaney took the airplane to an altitude of 18,000 feet and an air speed of 270 knots, or about 311 miles per hour, customary on a first flight. Typically, the 777s cruise altitude is 35,000 feet, and its cruise speed is Mach 0.84.

"This is the moment that thousands of Boeing employees have worked towards in the design, build and test of the 777 Freighter. The airplane handled perfectly," said Darcy-Hennemann after the flight ended. "Being at the controls of a commercial airplane on its maiden flight is a rare and unique opportunity and it was a great day."

The 777 Freighter is the sixth member of the 777 airplane family, and will be capable of flying 4,885 nautical miles with a full payload, making it the world's longest-range twin-engine freighter.

Boeing says the airplane's range capability will translate into significant savings for cargo operators: fewer stops and associated landing feeds, less congestion at transfer hubs, lower cargo handling costs and shorter cargo delivery times.

"I'm very proud of our 777 team and what they've accomplished with this airplane," said Larry Loftis, vice president 777 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "By working together with our customers and suppliers we have built the best possible new cargo airplane. I couldn't be more pleased."

The flight-test program will involve the airplane flown Monday and a second one. The two aircraft will be tested over approximately 270 flight hours and more than 450 ground test hours.

Boeing's plan is to earn certification from the Federal Aviation Administration and Europe's Joint Aviation Authority during the fourth quarter, and deliver to launch customer Air France shortly thereafter.

To date, Boeing has secured 78 firm orders from 11 customers for the 777 Freighter.

FMI: www.boeing.com