Boeing’s new 777X airliner makes first flight

Boeing’s new long-haul 777X airliner made its first flight on Saturday, a step forward for the company whose broader prospects remain clouded by the 737 MAX crisis. The world’s largest twin-engine aircraft landed at Boeing Field near Seattle after approximately four hours in the air, following months of delays and erratic weather in recent days. High winds led to the maiden flight’s postponement on Friday, and the company blamed weather for an earlier delay on Thursday, which was rainy.

A few minutes after 10:00 am local time, the plane took off from the rain-slicked runway at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, home to Boeing’s northwest US manufacturing site. “Yes!” Boeing spokesman Josh Green shouted as the plane’s wheels finally lifted off the tarmac. Just minutes earlier, the pilots deployed the plane’s winglets—folding wing tips—designed to improve the craft’s fuel efficiency and make it possible for the plane, with the widest wing span ever from Boeing, to be accommodated at more airports.

Boeings new 777X airliner makes first flight

Boeings new long-haul 777X airliner made its first flight on Saturday, a step forward for the company whose broader prospects remain clouded by the 737 MAX crisis. The worlds largest twin-engine aircraft landed at Boeing Field near Seattle after approximately four hours in the air, following months of delays and erratic weather in recent days. High winds led to the maiden flights postponement on Friday, and the company blamed weather for an earlier delay on Thursday, which was rainy. A few minutes after 10:00 am local time, the plane took off from the rain-slicked runway at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, home to Boeings northwest US manufacturing site. Yes! Boeing spokesman Josh Green shouted as the planes wheels finally lifted off the tarmac. Just minutes earlier, the pilots deployed the planes wingletsfolding wing tipsdesigned to improve the crafts fuel efficiency and make it possible for the plane, with the widest wing span ever from Boeing, to be accommodated at more airports.