News
Boeing opens B777X wing shop, Airbus launches ACJ350 XWB and Embraer completes first E190-E2 flight ahead of schedule
May 27th 2016
U.S. manufacturer Boeing this week opened a $1 billion B777X composite wing shop at its Everett complex. The facility, which covers more than 27 acres under one roof, is the equivalent of 25 [American] football fields,” Boeing said in a statement. Read More » “It will contain three of the world’s largest autoclaves. Each will be big enough to fit two 737 fuselages inside.”
The plane maker plans to begin production of the B777X in 2017, with delivery to launch customer Lufthansa scheduled for 2020. Up till now, Boeing has 320 orders and commitments from six customers. The B777X will go to market in two variants, the – 8 seats up to 375 passengers and has a range of 8700 nautical miles (16,110km), while the -9 can accommodate up to 425 passengers with a quoted range of 7600 nautical miles (14,075km).
Boeing had earlier said it would slow B777 output from 8.3 aircraft a month to seven next year and 5.5 from late 2018 as it shifted to the B777X.
Rival Airbus this week expanded its corporate jet family with the launch of the ACJ350 XWB with Easyfit provisions for cabin-outfitting. The ACJ350 features 270 m2/2,910 ft2 of cabin space in the -900 version, and the ultra-long range variant can carry 25 passengers up to 10,800 nm/20,000 km, or 22 hours.
Meanwhile, Embraer on Monday unexpectedly completed the first flight of its new E190-E2 airliner, several weeks ahead of schedule, paving the way for the aircraft’s appearance at the Farnborough Airshow in July. The test flight lasted 3 hours and 20 minutes.
“A first flight is always an emotional occasion, no matter how many you witness over the years. In this particular case, we are not only keeping our promises to the market, we are going beyond that by being a few months ahead of schedule. I want to thank each and every Embraer employee who is participating in this project,” said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer president and chief executive.
