Originally Posted by
Cough
Sticky Fingers - This is my best guess! The B737 Poseidon is probably more efficient for the mission, but the 38m wingspan won't fit on your average shorthaul gate - hence the Scimitars for the NG...
Correct. The ADG-III/ICAO-C gate box can accommodate wingspans up to 36m/118'
The folding wingtips on the 777X are to keep it within the ADG-V/ICAO-E 65m/213' box. Boeing is choosing to fit their airplane to existing airport infrastructure (nearly every airport can take Code E) rather than rely on the remaining airport authorities who have already opted once not to upgrade to Code F to do so in the future.