Boeing's newest widebody jet, the 777X, created buzz among aviation enthusiasts this week as it conducted a fresh round of taxi tests at the Everett factory.
The jet, which features retractable wingtips, is longer and higher than the jet maker's own iconic 747 double decker, putting on a show for Paine Field jet spotters who share photographs on social media when Boeing puts its aircraft to work.
The 777X test aircraft underwent a series of ground tests, including several rounds of low speed passes down the runway as teams of Boeing workers verified the operation of integrated airplane systems and software.
Several people captured the moment when the 777X fully extended its wingtips with no apparent difficulty as the jet taxied down the runway.
The aviation enthusiasts shared videos of the plane on Twitter.
Boeing teased the worldwide audience interested in its new jet by tweeting that the 777X underwent a "total body workout."
As that was going on in Everett, one European aviation enthusiast snapped a photo of a freshly painted new gate ground markings at San Francisco International Airport, revealing that the facility may be preparing to receive 777X flights, though it's not clear which airline will fly the route.
Emirates Airways, one of Boeing's big 777X customers, also shared photos of the 777X, which is construction in the Boeing factory.
The weeklong buzz helped take attention away from some of the negative publicity Boeing received because of the problems with the jet's engine, the GE9X. Those problems have pushed back the actual first flight of the test aircraft until early 2020, according to Boeing Chairman and CEO Denis Muilenburg.
The new engine was bolted to GE's 747 test aircraft for its first flight test, and you can see how big it really is.
Some analysts have expressed concerns that 777X sales are slow, but Ihssane Mounir, Boeing’s top airplane salesman, said he is not worried about 777X sales.
“The majority of the big replacement orders for A380s and 747s won’t arrive before 2023-2025," Mounir has said.
The Boeing Store is hoping the jet maker's new advanced widebody airplane will boost local and global online merchandising sales, offering 777X T-shirts, mugs, caps, and even key chains, Swiss army knives and baggage tags.
