777 to get folding wings...
 

Originally patented in 1995 for the 777, the 777X may have folding wings for airport access...

add that to pre-flight checklist...:ok:

http://seattletimes.com/ABPub/2012/11/05/2019614345.gif

Well that would be stupid and pointless. The 380 has an UNFOLDED and UNFOLDABLE wingspan of 261ft plus........................... And it seems to fit into many airports now.

I'd rather 'folding wings' was NOT in my checklist!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

emmm... what's the count on 380 wing dings at the moment?

If it's a light load, could they be used as winglets???

:}

BN2A,

If they have optimized the wingspan, winglets are even more worthless...

There was a concept A330 that had permanent 3/4 bent wings...not sure what happened with that.

WN...its about access...few airports routinely handle the A380...

Thanks my dear chap... I know ALL about the access. I am a 380 Captain:D:D:D

And it's WK.... NOT WN...

emmmm. Two..... Both by the Frogs.................

What's the count on overuns, LOC, stupidity by idiots?????????????

WK,

Then you know there are gates the A380 can't use, but the 777 can.

The new 777 will actually have a significantly longer wing than the current one- I think they're talking 72 odd meters.

Well Wiz - the OP posts a diagram showing 233' for the 77X. Will you Boing guys make your minds up:D:D:D

And the 380's wingspan is 79.75m! Significantly MORE than the you come up with!

Stahp! :=

If you guys keep this up we will be subjected to the size of you watches, billfolds and willys by page two of this thread.

WN,

What is your point?

His point is, he's a 380 Captain......

Yeah, what IS your point, WK?

That they should build a new 777 that can't park many places old ones can?

Or is any where the A380 can't go not worth going to??

Back in the late 80s, Boeing built a replacement wing (carbon fiber, instead of the original aluminum) for the A-6 Intruder, which included a new wingfold mechanism. IIRC, Grumman wouldn't let them use the original design...

I wonder if this would be a similar design?

I do seem to remember the original 777 design did have the folding wingtips as an option, but wasn't taken up.

This reminds me of the old adage "if something can go wrong, then sooner or later it will".

I waited for sixteen years, and it went horribly wrong.

So you include carbon fibre to make it more lightweight first and then you add heavy joins and structure to make it foldable - for just ten feet gain on each side? Not likely to happen.

bear in mind the original Boeing 777 idea was to continue using smaller airport gates which saves money . Plenty of airports with parking for big wings but they charge you more for the privelige , but if you dont need a 747/380 gate you save money. the other issue is the length of the aircraft which is more restrictive in a lot of places than the wingspan !

I'll start worrying when Boeing add the launch-bar on the nose-gear for EMALS/catapult launches! ;)

Not a single airline ordered the folding wing option on the old 777 that got actually developed and offered by Boeing back then (For KLGA's gates IIRC).
Boeing used the wing volume and space for more fuel instead and created the -300ER.

Why extend, why not just stick another one on top. Think of the extra fuel/weight you could carry. Call it the 777XX.