Boeing's folding wingtips get the FAA green light https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/18/...tips-faa-777x/
The new wings are made from carbon-fiber composites that are stronger and lighter than the metal Boeing uses in other wings. That lets the company increase the wings' width by 23 feet to 235 feet, which makes flying more efficient. These are the widest wings Boeing has attached to a plane, surpassing the 747-8's 224 feet. However, it doesn't hold the record for a commercial plane: the Airbus A380 has a 262-foot-wide wing, which forced some airports to install gates specifically to accommodate it.
The FAA's decision moves the 777X closer to a commercial reality, four and a half years after the plane was announced. There was a setback recently, though: there was a three-month delay in starting trials of the engine, which General Electric is supplying, largely because of a compressor problem. There's been a delay with the wings too over a longer-than-expected process in crafting structural ribs, though Boeing hopes to be back on track by summer. Despite the hitches, Boeing is still working towards the 777X's first flight, which is scheduled for Q1 next year. Commercial departures won't take place until at least that December.
The FAA's decision moves the 777X closer to a commercial reality, four and a half years after the plane was announced. There was a setback recently, though: there was a three-month delay in starting trials of the engine, which General Electric is supplying, largely because of a compressor problem. There's been a delay with the wings too over a longer-than-expected process in crafting structural ribs, though Boeing hopes to be back on track by summer. Despite the hitches, Boeing is still working towards the 777X's first flight, which is scheduled for Q1 next year. Commercial departures won't take place until at least that December.
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