Warszawa 2013-06-28
Boeing B.777-200ER in Poland.
322 Section 12.06.1994r. – 4.05.2013r.
The Boeing 777 is a long-range, wide-body aircraft powered by two turbofan engines. It is the world’s largest twin-jet. The plane takes on board from 314 to 441 passengers. Range 5,235 NM to 9,380 NM (9,695 km-17,370 km). It is commonly referred to as "Seven Triple". It is not true that the plane is called "three blackbirds", as some media has tried to portray it. The aircraft was developed to expand the B 747 and B 767 offerings. It was the first Boeing commercial aircraft to be equipped with a fly-by-wire control system. It was also the first to be designed entirely by computer. The aircraft (like the B 767) is built in two fuselage lengths; B 777-200 and B 777-300 with a 33.3 ft (10.1 m) longer fuselage. Motors are used as the drive; General Electric GE90, Pratt & Whitney PW4000 or Rolls-Royce Trent 800. The aircraft holds the record for the longest non-stop flight distance in a group of commercial aircraft.
In 1978, Boeing presented three new models: B 757 (to replace B 727), B 767 (two engines) and B 777 (three engines) to compete with DC-10 and L-1011. This was related to the obligation to fly over the ocean for commercial aircraft equipped with at least three engines (ETOPS). However, the change in regulations caused the work on the B 777 to be stopped. In accordance with ETOPS regulations, airlines began using the B 767 on long-haul overseas routes. In 1988, Boeing realized that the only answer to the competition’s designs would be a new design, powered by two engines. This arrangement will reduce the costs of purchasing and operating a new aircraft.
On December 8, 1989, Boeing began issuing an offer to airlines for the B 777. Eight carriers joined the program; All Nippon Airways, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Delta Air Lines, Japan Airlines, Qantas and United Airlines. They were invited to work on the program as early as January 1990. Already in March 1990, the configuration of the aircraft was created; cabin in cross-section similar to B 747. Capacity 325 passengers. Glass cockpit. Fly-by-wire steering. Assembly at the Boeing factory in Everett, due to the greatest experience in the construction of wide fuselages. The first order was received on October 14, 1990, from United Airlines, for 34 machines with Pratt & Whitney engines, worth $ 11 billion.
In January 1993, 240 teams (each with a maximum of 40 engineers and technicians) participated in the program, solving nearly 1,500 topics. The B 777 was the first commercial aircraft designed entirely by computer. Each drawing was created on a 3D CAD software system known as CATIA, from Dassault Systemes and IBM. This allowed for quick corrections and reduced costs. Boeing executives were initially unconvinced of CATIA’s capabilities and ordered a physical mock-up of the nose to be built to test the results. The test was so successful that additional mock-ups were cancelled. Boeing developed its own high-performance visualization system, FlyThru, later called IVT (Integrated Visualization Tool).
The Boeing company invited many renowned companies from around the world to produce components. The plane has become cosmopolitan. However, it was later beaten in this category by the B 787. Japanese, British and Australian companies are involved in the production. Nearly $1.5 billion was invested in the Everett plant to double production. New assembly methods were used. The hull sections are rotated 180 degrees for easy access to the upper hull components.
Assembly of the first aircraft began on January 4, 1993, and the company had 118 orders and a further 95 in option from 10 airlines. The roll out of WA001 took place on April 9, 1994. The first flight took place on June 12, 1994, under the command of test pilot John E. Cashman. The tests lasted 11 months. On April 19, 1995, the aircraft was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). The aircraft was certified for ETOPS-180 minutes, but also obtained ETOPS-207 minutes.
On May 15, 1995, the first B 777 was handed over to United Airlines. On November 12, 1995 Boeing delivered the first model with General Electric GE90-77B engines to British Airways. In 1997, there were problems with the engine bearings. Planes have been banned from flying across the Atlantic Ocean. However, the problem was resolved within a few weeks and the restrictions lifted. The first aircraft with Rolls-Royce Trent 877 engines made its first flight on March 31, 1996. On October 7, 1996, the B 777-200ER with a longer range was flown. On April 2, 1997, a B 777-200ER named "Super Ranger" of Malaysia Airlines broke the great circle of non-landing distance for a commercial airliner on the route from Boeing Field in Seattle to Kuala Lumpur, a distance of 10,823 NM (20,044 km), in 21 hours and 23 minutes.
On October 16, 1997, the B 777-300 made its first flight. The hull is 242.4 ft (73.9 m) long. Received type certification simultaneously from the FAA and JAA on May 4, 1998, and entered Cathay Pacific on May 27, 1998.
The B 777-300ER made its first flight on February 24, 2003. Certified on March 16, 2004. The first delivery to Air France took place on April 29, 2004.
The B 777-200LR made its first flight on March 8, 2005. The first delivery to Pakistan International Airlines took place on February 26, 2006. On November 10, 2005, a B 777-200LR aircraft set a distance record of 11,664 NM (21,602 km) from Hong Kong to London. The flight lasted 22 hours and 42 minutes.
The B 777F is a transport version based on the B 777-200LR. First flight on February 6, 2009, and delivery to the customer on February 19, 2009.
The B 777 was a great seller. In 2008, the production was 5 machines per month and in 2010, 7 machines per month. Over 1,000 aircraft were built. Complete assembly of each 777-300ER requires 49 days. More than 1,000 built B 777 machines had to fill the air lanes. So it was not difficult to locate a plane flying in the sky.
Photo description: Boeing B-777-312ER Singapore Airlines 9V-SWL aircraft, SIA326 transponder. The plane was flying from Singapore at a speed of 800 km/h at a ceiling of 10,973 m. The flight took place on February 14, 2011.
Boeing B-777 at LOT Polish Airlines.
The first Boeing B 777 operated by LOT Polish Airlines.
Unexpected problems with the operation of B-787 aircraft and, consequently, the grounding of all such machines by the FAA led to even greater problems for our national carrier, PLL LOT. LOT Polish Airlines, trying to save the Atlantic connections, leased three additional planes; A330, B767 and B777.
Since April 25, 2013, LOT Polish Airlines has been selling tickets for flights on the Warsaw-Toronto route since May 4, 2013. The offer was very attractive, because the ticket price for the return flight was PLN 1,777. The advertising materials presented – “Boeing 777 flight for PLN 1,777”. This price concerned flights on board the B 777 in the period from May 4, 2013 to June 7, 2013. Leasing the Boeing 777 guaranteed the performance of all scheduled flights until the return of the Boeing 787. The aircraft was rented together with the cabin crew and cabin crew, which was supplemented by Polish stewardesses. The idea was to ensure contact in Polish, while ensuring excellent knowledge of the inside of the machine. The aircraft has the registration CS-TFM. It has 30 seats in business class and 293 in economy class.
The aircraft was built as B 777-212ER with No. 28 513 / 144 in June 1998 and delivered to Singapore Airlines on 06/18/1998, registration 9V-SRA. After more than 10 years of operation, on January 12, 2010, the aircraft was taken over by Euro Atlantic Airways, which gave it the registration CS-TFM. The aircraft to date (July 2013) is owned by Euro Atlantic Airways (CS-TFM), although it has already flown with three other airlines; In the period from January 14, 2010 to March 10, 2011 in the lines of Biman Bangladesh. In the period from September 18, 2011 to March 23, 2012 on Air Madagascar. And most recently, May 4, 2013-June 7, 2013. at LOT Polish Airlines.
Euro Atlantic Airways is a Portuguese charter airline based in Sintra. It was established in May 2000, from the transformation of Air Madeira. It supports connections to the USA, Mexico, Canada and Australia. The main hub is Lisbon Portela Airport. The airline’s fleet consists of 8 aircraft: 1x Boeing B 737-800 (CS-TQU), 4x Boeing B 767-300ER (CS-TLO, CS-TFS, CS-TFT, CS-TLZ), 1x Boeing B 767-300SF (CS -TFM), 1x Boeing B 777-200ER (CS-TFM), 1x Lockheed L-1011-500 TriStar (CS-TEB). The airline has extensive experience in Atlantic flights.
Construction of the Boeing B-777.
B 777 is a commercial aircraft, built in a classic layout, metal construction, cantilever low-wing monoplane, powered by two turbofan engines.
Slant wings, equipped with full mechanization; leading edge flaps, trailing edge flaps, ailerons, breakers. The profile has been optimized for Ma-0.84 speed. The B 777-200 version has a wingspan of 199 ft 11 in (60.9 m) and the B 777-300 version has a wingspan of 212 ft 7 in (64.8 m). the wings have a sweep of 31.64 degrees.
Aircraft fuselage with a circular cross-section, built in two lengths; The B 777-200 is 209 ft 1 in (63.7 m) and the B 777-300 is 242 ft 4 in (73.9 m). Cabin width is 19 ft 3 in (5.87 m) with an overall fuselage width of 20 ft 4 in (6.20 m). In the front part there is a cabin for a two-man crew. The B 777-200 version can accommodate up to 440 passengers in a 1-class layout, 400 passengers in a 2-class layout, and 314 passengers in a 3-class layout. The B version of the 777-300 can accommodate 550 passengers in a 1-class configuration, 451 passengers in a 2-class configuration and 386 passengers in a 3-class configuration. The -200 version has a luggage compartment with a volume of 162 m3 under the floor and holds 32 LD3 containers. The -300 version has a trunk volume of 216 m3 and holds 44 LD3 containers.
Classic tail with division into rudders and fins.
Drive unit.
Each variant of the aircraft is offered (generally) with engines from three manufacturers.
Pratt & Whitney offers PW4000 series motors. For the B 777, it provides engines; PW4077 with 2 x 342 kN, PW4090 with 2 x 400 kN and PW4098 with 2 x 436 kN.
Rolls-Royce offers engines of the Trent 800 series. For the B 777, it provides engines; RR877 with 2 x 338 kN, RR 895 with 2 x 415 kN and RR 892 with 2 x 415 kN.
General Electric offers GE90 series motors. For the B 777, engines are used; GE90-77B with 2 x 342 kN, GE90-94B with 2 x 417 kN and GE90-92B/-94B with 2 x 409 kN/418 kN.
Boeing B-777 T-T data:
Span 60.90 or 64.80. Length 63.70 m (73.90 m B-777-300). Height 18.50 m. Curb weight 138,800 – 145,150 kg (160,500 – 167,800 kg B-777-300). Gross weight 201,850 – 223,200 kg (237,680 – 251,290 kg B-777-300). Maximum weight 247,200 – 347,500 kg. Fuel capacity 117,348 – 181,283 liters. Top speed Ma 0.84. Cruising speed Ma 0.84. Maximum range 21,000 km. Ceiling 11,000 – 13,000 m. Take-off length 2,440 m. Landing distance 3,230 m. More than 1,000 were built.
Tally.
Until now, LOT Polish Airlines has used only one Boeing 777 aircraft, rented from Euro Atlantic Airways in the period May 4, 2013-June 7, 2013.
The aircraft was built as B 777-212ER with No. 28 513 / 144 in June 1998. and delivered to Singapore Airlines on 06/18/1998, registration 9V-SRA. After more than 10 years of operation on January 12, 2010. the aircraft was taken over by Euro Atlantic Airways, which gave it the registration CS-TFM. The aircraft to date (July 2013) is owned by Euro Atlantic Airways (CS-TFM), although it has already flown with three other airlines; In the period from January 14, 2010 to March 10, 2011 in the lines of Biman Bangladesh. In the period from September 18, 2011 to March 23, 2012 on Air Madagascar. And most recently, May 4, 2013-June 7, 2013. at LOT Polish Airlines.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman