The Biggest Jet Engines in History Are Finally Ready to Power Boeing's Biggest Plane
 

Boeing is set to debut its biggest plane ever next month, and the 777X has finally been paired with the gargantuan GE9X engine that will propel its flight.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5e1281cd33.jpg


https://www.popularmechanics.com/fli...x-777x-photos/

I think we might have known that already. :O

Boeing is reportedly planning to roll it out in the next month or two, which I suspect many don't know.

Yeah but the PICTURE impressed me. :)

Ahhh yes, the folding wingtip version :eek:

I don't care what the brochure says, that alone will keep me off the jet. At least the 787 gets there, even if it is with a numbum.

IG

Better stay off those with retractable landing gear and moveable flaps too. You know what deathtraps those have proven to be.

I think there's a fairly crucial distinction between bits that are intended to move in flight and those that aren't meant to. :O

but these are "meant to be"

Yes, but the comparison was between those and folding wingtips, that aren't.

Do try to keep up. :O

It's a lot easier to keep things from moving in flight that aren't supposed to move, than to keep things moving in flight from moving when they're not supposed (or moving contrary to how they're supposed to)

The SLUF and 'toom flew with wings folded.
The Tomcat could fly with asymmetric sweep.
So even in the event of pilot error, or some type of mechanical failure, surely there's no in flight worries about the new triple 7's last three metres on each side?
I'd be more concerned about the person sitting in Seat 0A forgetting to fold `em coming into the gate, and trading paint with someone or something else.
And no doubt there'd be all sorts of alarms and things to stop that happening...

C'mon, the USN was flying fighters with folding wings off carriers in WW2. I think they've probably worked out the kinks by now! :)

Folding wings? That's just some sort of crazy science fiction.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....51d0185ea2.jpg

Don't get too close though... :sad:

hope so, it helps to know which way the loads are on the pylon when something breaks

Nice cap...

Ouch!! :) :)

tandem wing
 

The folding wingtip thing makes me wonder: will we at some point see large aircraft with tandem wings?

What would be the disadvantages with a forward mounted tandem wing instead of extending the wingspan?

More structural parts needed to mount the wings, more drag, forward wing possibly interfering with airflow to engines at certain AoA, what else...? Any advantages that could make it happen?

EEngr. Great picture. What a magnificent machine. I've never seen that photo before. You got any more?

Try this google reverse image search link HERE for more photo's.

Maybe the drawing FlyXKsa posted is a hint from Boeing about the design of their new 797. It is to be powered by a de-rated single GE90 built into the fuselage..... after all if Cirus can do it, why not Boeing? We can look forward to the videos of their giant airframe parachute system being tested.
Happy New Year to all Ppruners from a member of the SLF team

Well most of the time. :O

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ec87e6c776.jpg

Folding wings
 

Wiffy says ": Ah , just another thing that can go wrong!"
And she is an Domestic Engineer.

Oh and Boeing, do us a favor , connect it to the TakeOff Config Warning
Just in case.
Gone fishing
Watching the Eagles
Cpt B

The original B777 prototype had folding wings tips. I believe it was meant to be an optional extra, not sure if anyone ordered it. I guess it will just serve to further complicate all that line graffiti around the terminal area.

And yes, that is an impressively big engine.

Slightly less powerful (and far more efficient) than it's predecessor is it not?

mcas......................

Yes, around 105k lbs. max thrust vs. around 115k for the GE90-115B. In spite of the larger aircraft, they think the improved fuel burn will mean carrying less fuel and a lower MTO than the -300ER for the same range. Hence less Max TO thrust required.

Cattletruck, the original 777 had folding wings as an option, but no one ever ordered it and no flyable 777s were ever built with the feature. I suspect there were some structural provisions in the early build wings, but those were quietly removed to save weight as it became apparent no one was going to order the folding wings. The original folding wing was far more complex than what is being used for the 777X - the original folded where there were still flaps and such (and hence hydraulics) outboard of the fold point. On the 777X, the folding portion is outboard of any movable aerodynamic surfaces - hence no hydraulics outboard, just some electrical wiring for the collision lights and such.
IIRC, the original 777 folding wing was to get the 777 into the same gate size as a 767. The 777X folding wing is simply to get the X into the same gate size as the 777-300ER.

That is fascinating, and a true testament to progress. It's not about making it bigger, but making it better.

How could Popular Mechanics get their base info about the 777X so wrong? This aircraft isn't even close to Boeing's biggest aircraft.

To be fair, the article does qualify the statement by saying subsequently that it's Boeing's largest twin, which it obviously is.

That said, the 777X's length, span and (with the exception of the 747SP) height are all greater than any previous Boeing jet airliner.

tdracer - I see the max takeoff weights are the same for 777-300ER and 777-9. I didn't find published takeoff distance under standard conditions for the 777-9 - I assume they need to be confirmed by testing. With the same max weight and 10,000 pounds less thrust, shouldn't the takeoff distance be longer or does the large wing factor in with reduced takeoff speed? Boeing's video showing the first engine being mounted shows an airframe lacking a lot of missing parts. As a Boeing stockholder should I be concerned?

NO, only as a passenger on the first flight

Think of it as more of a progress photo to calm the investors

We're told that the GE9x has a higher tip speed than its predecessors, thanks to the redesigned blades and lower blade count.

Assuming a typical 2400 rpm at 100% N1, the tips of a 134" fan will be travelling at around 430 m/s (apologies for the mixed units).

As I recall it from the early 1990s, the original 777 folding wingtips were specifically to get it into the domestic gates at Chicago O'Hare. Possibly elsewhere but that was the critical design driver. The idea was to fit where the DC-10/L-1011 fitted, on domestic flights from there to California, Florida, etc, of American, United, TWA and the others. The gates had been arranged to just about fit these types when originally introduced.

In just a few years that followed widebodies disappeared altogether from US domestic flights, initially from mid-Continent points like Chicago, and afterwards even from coast-to-coast flights. I don't think any 777s were ever configured and deployed wholly on US domestic flights. The requirements and mission of aircraft types do change notably over time, and particular features for particular markets do have a habit of not working out long term.

Less than sonic you can be sure of that.