According to Simple Flying, the Boeing 777-9 test flight fleet has reached a cumulative total of 4,800 test hours during its evaluation program. The milestone reflects ongoing flight test activities conducted across the existing fleet of the twinjet aircraft model.
Furthermore, a factory-fresh airplane is joining the growing fleet of twinjets. As the seventh airframe in the test lineup, this newly completed aircraft will be tasked with conducting Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) certification procedures.
The introduction of the seventh airframe specifically for ETOPS certification marks a further step in the flight testing phase, adding to the 4,800 test hours already logged by the Boeing 777-9 test fleet.
As programme background, Boeing said on July 28 that the 777X had received FAA approval to begin certification flight testing under Type Inspection Authorization 4B, while the company continued to anticipate first delivery in 2027.
