Cathay retired the 777 prototype

[Check Airman]

Hi all,

I just came across this article that said CX has parked the very first 777. MSN1, B-HNL. For those who've flown it, did it have any quirks?

Cathay Pacific retired the first prototype Boeing 777-200. ? News In Flight (http://newsinflight.com/2018/06/09/cathay-pacific-retired-the-first-prototype-boeing-777-200/)

[Dora-9]

I liked it! It handled more like a B773...

[tdracer]

WA001 in Boeing parlance - and not really a prototype, just the first 777 built.
Boeing had always intended to deliver the number 1 aircraft, but then it was discovered that they hadn't built the wing correctly - some spars were put in backwards or something along that line. The error didn't affect the ultimate strength of the wing, but it changed the load distribution and hence affected the fatigue life - so the assumption was Boeing would never sell it and just use it as a flying test bed (as was done with the first 747, although technically that aircraft was a prototype and it would have been impractical to ever deliver it). However apparently Boeing did revised fatigue calculations that said it was suitable for commercial service with suitable life restrictions which allowed it to be sold for commercial service.
The first 757 and 767 were never delivered to commercial service - they stayed on as flying test bed aircraft and were eventually used for military prototype work - the 757 used to validate F-22 FBW software, the 767 as an optical test bed for tracking ballistic re-entry vehicles.

[Cpt. Underpants]

Hi all,

I just came across this article that said CX has parked the very first 777. MSN1, B-HNL. For those who've flown it, did it have any quirks?

Cathay Pacific retired the first prototype Boeing 777-200. ? News In Flight (http://newsinflight.com/2018/06/09/cathay-pacific-retired-the-first-prototype-boeing-777-200/)

I liked the aircraft it handled no differently to any other 772, and every time I flew her I was acutely aware of the history of the aircraft.
The 777 remains the best handling of all the Boeing aircraft I've flown (I've flown all the Boeing jets, bar the 787) and B-HNL was no exception.
I look forward to seeing her again in Seattle some time

[BuzzBox]

I just came across this article that said CX has parked the very first 777. MSN1, B-HNL. For those who've flown it, did it have any quirks?

I reckon it was better than the rest of the CX -200s. It seemed to perform better and generally had less snags as I recall, but that was over 10 years ago. It certainly didn't have any 'quirks'.

[Dora-9]

I liked the aircraft it handled no differently to any other 772

I don't agree and neither, seemingly, does Buzzbox. Certainly when it arrived the consensus was that it was subtly different.

I was delighted when I turned up at DXB for my last CX flight and there was B-HNL. I'd already got my choice of route and FO, and here was my favorite B772!

[ACMS]

Yes I agree, it was the best of the 200’s I flew, always did a nice landing in her despite all the bashing it took as a test Aircraft ​​​​!!
It was my favouite as well.

Rest easy old girl and see you soon.

[Check Airman]

Thanks all. Interesting information for sure.

[Dan Winterland]

Meanwhile, Cathay Dragon are still operating the prototype A330.

[TimeToWin]

I just looked her up in my logbook.... I flew her on my initial FO line check. As I remember she rattled a lot less than the other 200's!

[Oasis]

First of our 777’s with 4 fix pages in the fmc, sheer luxury!