AIRCRAFT - Five airborne 777-9 jets and one big milestone

The 777-9 test fleet had a busy 24 hours putting systems, propulsion and interiors through their paces.

The seventh 777-9 test plane prepares for its first flight at Payne Field. (Marian Lockhart photo © Boeing)

The 777-9 test fleet recently completed a first: five jets airborne in 24 hours.

During the two-day campaign, the team conducted systems, propulsion and interior tests and reached a first-flight milestone. They completed six flights, nearly 18 hours of flight testing and additional ground tests.
Boeing commemorated the moment on LinkedIn and other social media: Five for flying!

Catch up quick: The 777-9 program has logged more than 4,800 flight test hours across the 777-9 test fleet. In addition to the dedicated test airplanes, production-configured airplanes – like this seventh 777-9 to fly – are supporting certification work ahead of first delivery in 2027, the company said.

“Airplane development is not easy, but it is such a worthy endeavor because we are creating incredibly capable airplanes that will safely transport people around the world for generations,” said Terry Beezhold, 777-9 vice president and program manager. “A big thank you to our team for their continued hard work and to all of our 777X customers.”