FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1997
1997 - 3329.PDF
BOEING 777 SOO and 183kt [338km/h] with 100% worn brakes. We will be doing abused take-offs at Edwards AFB, California, however." The first flight passed off with no technical problems-a rare event. "We spent 4h shaking the aircraft down pretty thoroughly," says Santoni. He adds that initial handling qualities were "remarkably similar" to those of the -200. The GMCS was also used for taxiing and in flight. Cashman reveals drat Boeing is considering recording die images for flight-data purposes. The first flight was also made with Trent 892 turbofans, which represents a significant mile stone for the UK engine-maker. This was the first time that non-US engines had powered a Boeing-made widebody on its first flight. The first flight included engine shut-downs and re lights with windmill air-starts at 249kt. Early flight testing was aimed at clearing the high-speed envelope beyond the initial 250kt restriction. This was an important hurdle to clear, because the -300 has a maximum operat ing cruise speed of Mach 0.89, higher than the -200's M0.87. To validate this, the tests includ ed dives at speeds of up to M0.96, or about M0.02 faster than for the -200. By early December, the test fleet was joined by WB531, the first PW4090-powered 777- 300. By this stage, the first two R-R-powered The 111-300's tail skid is the most visible new feature of the stretched model aircraft (WB501 and 502) had amassed more than 150h of flight testing, including a visit by WB502 to the Dubai air show and the UK. Milestones achieved included the successful passingof flutter- and cruise-performance tests, as well as most of the air work, including stalls. The total 777-300 test-flight programme is due to encompass about 1,500h, of which some 60% will be in-house Boeing testing and the remainder certification work. Of this, WB501 was expected to fly around 500h of tests aimed primarily at aerodynamic testing, flutter clear ance, control-law stability evaluation and take off performance work. WB502 is to be used for performance testing and validation of updated navigation computers and other avionics. The first P& W-powered aircraft is expected to be used for around 2 OOh, mainly on fuel- con sumption and systems tests, while the second, WB551, has been allocated to more-stringent engine-related tests to focus on the perfor mance of its PW4098 powerplants. This air craft, line number 120, is due to join die test fleet in early February 1998, and will be subjected to up to 400h of tests through to the planned certification in late August 1998. Certification of die PW4090-powered version is due to pre-date this by almost three months, while die R-R-powered versions are on schedule for certification in May 1998. The fifth test air craft, WB503, is due to be rolled out in mid- December and will join die test programme for only two niondis for evaluation of cabin and in flight-entertainment systems for a total of about 80h. With fast progress to date, it seems that the 777-300 is living up to early expectations. Boeing's hope now is that the airlines are equal ly encouraged, and that the orderbook may some day grow to "Classic" proportions. J ri'i'L'itttgj'i'Kiivinif.ii;' GARETH BURGESS 97 Length overall Wing span Height Powerplant Thrust (each) Max Take-off weight (baseline) 73.9m 60.9m 18.5m 2 x General Electric GE90-92B or Pratt & Whitney PW4090/PW4098 or Rolls-Royce Trent 892 turbofans 409-436kN 263.300kg Max fuel capacity Typical cruise speed Max cruise speed Max cruising altitude Accomodation (typical) 3-class 2-class 1-class Range 171.2001 Mach 0.84 Mach 0.89 43.000ft 328-394 400-479 550 10,400km Option 299,600kg Note: data for proposed longer range, higher weight 777-300X is not included Source: Boeing FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 3 - 9 December 1997 41
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
